Amy shook her head, sniffing as she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her top. To distract herself, she tried to reach for her mother’s pendant, but got a fright when she discovered that it wasn’t hanging around her neck. There was a moment of panic before she remembered why she wasn’t wearing it—she had torn the chain from her neck the night before after she had been at the lighthouse. It must still be back in her hotel room.

“This is all my fault,” Ryan groaned. “I knew I shouldn’t have dumped all this on you. This has ruined the whole night, hasn’t it?”

“Don’t say that.”

“You didn’t need to hear all my problems.”

“I’m pleased you told me. I wanted you to. And I basically made you, remember?”

“Yeah, but I invited you out promising that we’d have some fun, not make you cry.” And then, without any warning, he leapt straight to his feet, dusted the sand off his jeans, and offered her his hand. “Come on, up you get. You’re coming with me.”

“Where are we going?”

He turned and gestured straight at the lighthouse.

“You can’t be serious,” Amy said. “You actually want to go out there?”

“You bet I do. Let’s go see what all the fuss is about.”

“I don’t know. It feels strange. It doesn’t seem right.”

“You were curious a few hours ago.”

“Before our big chat, sure. But the mood’s changed, you know?”

“And that’s exactly why we should, if for no other reason than to try to lighten up the evening.” Ryan gave his hand a shake, urging her to take it. Amy couldn’t help wonder if this was a diversionary tactic so he could avoid dealing with the bigger issues waiting for him back at home.

“Come on. How about it?”

“But what about everything you said to Chloe—that it’s wrong, that you don’t think they’re going to find anything, that you think they’re all wasting their time?”

“And I still do, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be any less fun to go and watch, right?”

He folded his hand around hers, and Amy felt his strength as he pulled her to her feet. Standing inches apart, she looked straight at him and saw that his eyes were glowing, bright and blue and full of adventure.

“You’re sure about this?”

He had a look on his face that was starting to feel familiar, a smile that felt oddly comforting.

“Absolutely,” he said.

They set off at once down the dune and across the beach, negotiating a path through the rocks. And as they climbed their way to the top of the outcrop and headed for the tower, Amy noticed that Ryan had made no effort to let go of her hand, that his fingers were now entwined with hers.