My shoulders slumped. I was such a jerk. My friends did not deserve me biting their heads off just because my day had been a nightmare. How a morning that had started off so perfectly could turn into such a disaster, I wasn’t quite sure. I reached out and squeezed Caelyn’s hand. “I’m sorry. It’s just been a shitty morning.”

She gave me a small smile. “I know.” Her eyes flicked to Ford, who was heading to the side door of The Catch, and then she looked back at me. “It just seemed like there was some new energy brewing between the two of you.”

Heat filled my cheeks, and I bit my bottom lip. There was definitely something new and different between Ford and me. I glanced over my shoulder, taking the man in as he pulled open the door. I didn’t want to lose him. Didn’t want to lose this new thing between us.

“They slept together,” Kenna said matter-of-factly, but worry streaked across her expression.

My head jerked in her direction. “How do you know that?”

Caelyn gasped, and Kenna’s lips twitched. “It’s written all over both of you. If you want to hide it, you’re both going to have to work on your poker faces.”

“I don’t want to hide it.” But did Ford? I didn’t think so. He’d been more than openly affectionate around the sheriff. But would that change around the people we knew?

Caelyn leaned forward. “What’s wrong, Bell?”

I rubbed my temples, trying my best to clear the tension gathering there. “So, so much.” It felt like more and more was being piled onto my plate, and I had no way to deal with it all. There was no release valve for my life. And as wonderful as last night and this morning had been with Ford, it had only raised the stakes. Instead of enjoying this newfound relationship between us, I was second-guessing every word and action, worrying that one wrong move would send this house of cards tumbling to the ground.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Kenna muttered. “What is he doing here?”

“I missed you too, Brown Eyes.”

I pressed my lips together to hide my chuckle as I waved at Crosby and Hunter. “Hey, guys. You know you’re welcome anytime”—I arched a brow at Kenna—“but aren’t you supposed to be working?”

Kenna scoffed. “Hunter maybe, but we’re probably just interrupting one of Crosby’s paddleboarding sessions.”

Crosby sent Kenna a grin that even I had to admit was devastating. “You know you’re always welcome on the back of my board.”

She gave an exaggerated shudder. “No thank you. I prefer to stay disease-free.”

“Don’t worry, Brown Eyes. Safety first. My board and I are always disease-free.”