She typed a reply and hit send.

As she lowered the phone, she sensed someone staring at her. She looked up quickly. Her eyes landed on Eric. Was it him? Had he seen the message?

But he was outside the shade now, crouching beside Locke and Joy as they tried to build a fort out of sand.

“Great!” the kids clapped.

“Can we build a castle too?”

“All right, no problem!”

Hadley let out a quiet sigh. Maybe she was just overthinking.

Hadley had planned an early run with Ellis two days earlier, since he was set to leave later that very day.

When that day came, she slipped out at her usual hour. Without her noticing, Eric trailed behind her in silence.

Ellis showed up just as planned, joining her on the roadside.

“Morning, Hadley,” he said as he slowed to a stop.

“Morning to you, too, Mr. Gomez,” Hadley answered, flashing him a grin.

The way Hadley addressed him made Ellis frown, but he responded with a faint nod and said, “Want to head to the same place as before?”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Hadley said.

And so, they jogged without a word down the familiar island road until they came upon the same spot marked by that wide, weathered boulder.

Reaching for her thermos, Hadley unscrewed the lid and turned toward him.

“Would you like some water, Mr. Gomez?”

“Appreciate it, but I’ve got my own this time,” Ellis said, giving a small shake of his head.

He reached into his pack and pulled out a bottle.

“I stick to cold water. It suits me better. They say women should drink theirs warm—it’s supposed to be healthier.”

L?tτ cнαρτ?rs ιn glov?l?.

“I suppose,” Hadley replied, taking a slow sip as she weighed whether now was the right moment to speak her mind.

Before she could decide, Ellis broke the silence.

“That thing we talked about—have you given it some thought? I meant every word I said.” There was a short pause before he went on, saying, “I know the position I’m in. One word from you could bury me. So believe me when I say I’m not lying.”

“Mr. Gomez,” Hadley said, her nerves beginning to settle.

“I…”

Her words hung in the air, interrupted by the sound of tires skimming gravel.

Eric suddenly zipped into view on a mountain bike, one hand raised in greeting.

“Hey, Hadley!”

Hadley stared at him in confusion, unsure of why Eric had come. As she stood up from the stone, a crease formed between her brows. Something about Eric’s arrival didn’t sit right.

Eric rolled up fast, balancing on his bike with one hand gripping the handlebar and both feet flat on the ground.

That was when he spotted Ellis nearby.

“Oh? Didn’t realize you had company, Mr. Gomez.”

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