“I’m sorry. My phone died and I didn’t have my charger.” Another slap. “The highway was closed. They wouldn’t let anyone through.”

She nods and sniffs. “I know. We went out looking for you and saw the barricade. We called everyone we knew trying to find you.” Her eyes widen. “You have to call Mom and Dad.”

I wince thinking of my mom freaking out. “Do me a favor? Call them for me. My phone needs to charge, and I need to catch up with my girl. Please?”

She hesitates, glances between me and Sydney, but then agrees. “You owe me, though. For this and for taking a good five years off my life last night with all the worrying.”

“I’ll make it up to you later. Boat ride in the morning? We’ll go to that place with the biscuits and gravy.” I’m still pissed at the shenanigans she pulled today or yesterday, whatever day that was, but now is not the time to hash it out.

“Buying my love with food? Nice.”

“You know it.” I wink at her and add, “Love you, sis.”

With a burst of adrenaline fueled from exhaustion and the prospect of kissing her until I pass out, I grab Sydney’s legs and toss her over my shoulder.

“Wait,” Tara calls after us. “It’s already morning. What time?”

“Tomorrow morning,” I clarify and shut the door before she can yell at me some more. For the next twenty-four hours I’m not leaving this room. I need to sleep for half of it and make out with Sydney for the other half.

“She was really worried about you.” Sydney pulls me down on top of her as soon as I lay her on the bed.

“Not you?”

“I knew you were okay. You had to be. I refused to believe that I’d just gotten you and then lost you.” Her brown eyes soften, and she swallows. “I shouldn’t have left. I’ve waited so long for this and then I ran at the first bump in the road because I was afraid that after all this time, I’d somehow lucked into it out of lack of options.”

My lips twitch at the ridiculous notion, but she doesn’t give me time to correct her before she continues. “But, I don’t care. Even if the only reason you want to be with me now is because I ruined things with Amelia and every other girl you dated and I’m the last woman on the island, so to speak, I’m still the best option because no one loves you more than me. Not now, not ever. I came back to tell you that I’m going to fight for you.”