His words break my heart and heal it simultaneously. He's forgotten how to let someone else share his burden, but that changes now. I'll be here—not to fight his battles, but to help carry the weight when it threatens to crush him.

"I see you, Nate," I whisper, emotion thick in my throat. "I've always seen you."

"I know."

For the first time in years, there's a glint of light in his eyes that tells me he believes me.

There's a brief moment of silence before his lips quirk into that half-smile that still makes my heart skip. "Do you trust me?"

The question echoes in my chest.

Do I trust him?

Even when I was angry, even when his choices felt like betrayal, I've always trusted Nate Sullivan with everything that matters—including my heart, even when I tried not to.

Before doubt can creep in, I wrap my arms around his waist. His body is solid against mine, warmth seeping through his damp shirt. His heartbeat thuds against my chest, steady and strong, and the closeness makes me dizzy. I feel him react to my touch, his breathing changing, muscles tensing beneath my fingers.

"Keep your eyes on me, Leni," he says, his voice dropping low. My name on his lips sends shivers down my spine.

Then we're falling, the cold water shocking us both. I surface laughing, clinging to him like he's my anchor in a storm.

"You're insane!" I gasp through my laughter.

"You say insane, I say fun." He grins, holding me close.

His eyes drift to my lips, lingering there, and the world narrows to just us—floating in the water, bodies pressed together, breaths mingling in the narrow space between us. Heat builds despite the cool water, and I bite my lip, trying to ignore how badly I want him to close that distance.

The moment stretches, electric and fragile, until he breaks it. "It's getting dark. We should head back."

I nod, even as every cell in my body screams for something else. He lifts me back onto the boat, his hands firm on my waist, leaving ghost prints of warmth on my skin. When I emerge from changing into his old Aerosmith t-shirt, I catch him staring at me like I'm something precious and rare. For the first time in forever, I feel beautiful. Wanted.