I took a sip of my Coke. “So, what do you think about going to Seattle this weekend? Carson has the opening for his new installation. I’d love for you to meet him. We can explore downtown, restaurant-hop, the works.”

Shay froze, her sandwich halfway to her mouth. “You want me to go to Seattle with you?”

I could suddenly see that the path in front of me was full of barely visible mines. “Yeah. I know it’ll be tough at first, but Michael lives outside the city. Dante didn’t see any evidence that he ever leaves the neighborhood he lives and works in. You’ll be totally safe.” Dante had found so little that he’d finally said it was time to throw in the towel. He was taking a case in Colorado and then would do another check-in on Michael when he was done.

Her chest rose and fell in rapid succession as she laid her sandwich back on the plate. “I can’t.”

I reached across the table to lay a hand over Shay’s. “You can. I know it’s scary, but you’ll be with me the whole time. And we’re getting back to normal life, right?”

She tugged her hand free, searching for something in her pocket. She pulled out a small stone, rubbing her fingers over it in circles. “My normal is here. On Harbor and Anchor. I don’t want to go to the mainland.”

“Don’t want to or are scared to? Be honest with yourself.” I had to push a little. Shay couldn’t live the rest of her life on these islands, just hoping that her brother would get sent back to jail.

Her motions on the stone sped up. “I’m not ready.”

“Will you ever be ready?”

Shay’s fingers stilled. “That’s not fair.”

I bristled at the accusation in her tone. “It’s an honest question.” Because I couldn’t live the rest of my life on this thirty-acre island. While I saw it as my home, I still wanted to travel and experience the rest of the world now and then.

“You’re pushing, and you promised I could do this at my pace.”

I scrubbed a hand over my jaw. She had a point. I had promised her that very thing. But I selfishly wanted her with me. And I sure as hell didn’t want to leave her alone. “I have to go. I haven’t been the best friend to Carson lately, and he needs my support.”

Shay’s expression softened, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “Then you should go. I’m not saying you shouldn’t.”