“It wasn’t just like that. Nothing about it was easy. There were a hundred reasons to stay put. But there was one damn good reason to go. Sometimes, you have to move the pieces around—hell, flip the whole damn board if you need to, to protect what’s yours. You have to know what’s worth the fight.”

His words sink in. My dad’s not just giving me advice. This is a challenge.

He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Do what you must for love, Alex. It’s the only thing that matters.”

I study the endless stretch of green before me and settle into my stance. The weight in my chest hasn’t lessened, but something inside me has shifted. I understand what I need to do.

I draw my club back, steady and controlled. When I swing, everything clicks into place. The ball launches clean and smooth, cutting through the air in a perfect arc before landing dead center on the fairway.

Dad watches the shot and releases a low whistle. “That’s more like it.”

I exhale, gripping the club a little tighter.

It’s time to clean up my short game and work toward a future where Magnolia and I are not separated by an ocean.

Chapter 6

Alex Sebring

Unread emails have piled up like an avalanche, burying my inbox in a mess I have no patience to dig through. My personal assistant should handle this—sorting the urgent from the useless, deleting the spam, and spoon-feeding me what matters.

But I don’t have a PA anymore.

Not since I fired her.

Even with the heavier workload, I don’t regret it for a second. She leaked my Soul Sync involvement to Celeste—I’m sure of it. She lied to my face, swore she didn’t, but I’m not stupid. And I know damn well I didn’t match with Celeste. Someone helped rig it, and she was part of it. No doubt.

Until I figure out who else I can trust, I’m keeping my circle small and tight.

Which is why I did something I might regret.

A sudden thud startles me from my thoughts. A large tote bag lands on my desk, followed by the unmistakable sound of my sister’s voice. “All right, golden boy. Let’s do this. And when do I get a raise?”

“Jesus, Leilani.”

She grins, unbothered, and plants herself in the chair across from me, kicking her feet up onto my desk like she owns the place. “Relax, big brother. I already know the answer. ‘Start by not pissing me off.’ Or ‘Never.’”

Damn. She does a decent job of impersonating me.

“That sound about right?”

I stare at her for a long beat. “This was a terrible idea.”

She gasps, clutching her chest like I’ve wounded her heart. “Wow. That hurts, Alex. But it’s too late now. You hired me.”