He found his way out of the fray and down Straight Wharf. He turned on Beach Street and picked up his pace, anxious to get to Brant Point, anxious to get to her. He had to tell her he hadn’t forgotten their pact. It meant as much to him as it did to her—he’d just gotten lost for a little while. Could he convince her?

Had she made a wish—written it out on paper the way they did all those years ago? Was it foolish that he had? Even when he believed they had no future, he’d still kept up their tradition. He needed to show her. He needed to at least try.

He hurried past the bike rental place and Children’s Beach, and once Brant Point was in view, he broke into an all-out run, scanning every passing pedestrian, carefully watching for her fiery hair.

He ran toward the lighthouse, toward their spot, memories of her kisses still fresh in his mind. How had he been stupid enough to let her go? He’d lost her once, he knew the emptiness of life without Louisa—what made him think he could survive that again?

He raced ahead until the ground turned to sand underneath his feet. He pressed on, winded, until he reached the lighthouse, guided by the oversize American flag affixed to its side.

He looked around, trying to catch his breath. But Louisa wasn’t there. He took out his phone. 5:25 p.m. Their golden birthday.

And she wasn’t there.

He walked toward the lighthouse, toward the deck that led straight to its door, but veered around to the right, taking in the quiet of the evening and wishing things were different.

He’d been so careless about letting her go. Why hadn’t he fought for her? Why had he simply accepted her reasoning for breaking them apart? He’d ruined everything, and now he feared it was too late.

The pact was important to her. If she’d given up on it, then she’d given up on him.

And he had no idea how to fix it.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

IT HAD BEEN AGES SINCE LOUISA HAD HOSTED A PARTY, but it was her birthday, and Ally had insisted on it.

“It’ll take your mind off that silly pact,” she’d said.

Louisa didn’t bother correcting her because the pact did seem silly. Everything about her relationship with Cody made her feel silly. She’d behaved badly. She’d foolishly believed love could overcome all the odds stacked against them. It was embarrassing to think about now.

Whoever said all you need is love was an idiot.