103. Hope

“Hey there,” wasn’t the smoothest opener, but there was nothing else I could say. In the same way he knew my heart would melt for the flowers he put in the inn, he must have known that I would make some kind of entrance.

My coppery hair is down, catching the breeze. For once I felt like a queen in my black dress after leaving Button with her kind-of adoptive grandparents. It’s tight, strapless, hugging my curves and showing off my long legs just as I intended.

I don’t want my reunion with Cal to be about Button, as much as I love my little wonder. We'll get there, after tonight.

After all, this moment has been a few days in the making. Cal’s not the only one capable of making plans.

In fact, the first people I saw were Lyra and Declan. When I produced Button from out of the passenger seat, I felt a surge of panic. “She’s not Cal’s,” I said too quickly to sound polite.

Then, allowing her to scamper off merrily towards the sand, I added softly, “She’s technically not mine either. I’