“But I am.” He shrugged as we paused between our houses. “I have been since the moment we met. I’m not the guy to lay down my life—not with Fin at home. I’m the guy who figures out a way for everyone to live. But that out there”—he motioned toward the beach—“that wasn’t about me.”

“Jackson.” My heart sank with guilt.

“It’s okay.” He cradled my face. “And when it comes to you, I might be a few laps behind in this race, but I’ve got a slight advantage on the guy.”

“You’re alive?” Sarcasm rolled heavily off my tongue.

“I wasn’t going there.” A corner of his mouth lifted. “Time, Morgan. I have time and the persistence to use it. Now, what do you want to do with the rest of our night?”

“Take me to bed.”

His forehead crinkled. “I thought you wanted some space from your friends.”

“Right. Take me to your bed.”

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Morgan

Here’s the thing. If I don’t make it back from this, you can’t lock that big, beautiful heart away. When that guy comes along, and trust me, he will, you have to take the chance.

Substantial, scrumptious warmth surrounded me as I opened my eyes.

I blinked rapidly to bring the world into focus and tried to make sense of the heavy, masculine furniture and hunter-green comforter.

I was in Jackson’s bed.

That was his arm draped over my waist, his strong body cradling mine. I waited for the panic to set in or a warning bell that I’d been reckless to crawl into his bed last night, but all I felt was calm, soothing heat.

His bedroom looked out over the ocean, and I watched the waves crash ashore with a steady rhythm that nearly lulled me back to sleep. The sky was gray and thick with heavy clouds as a storm moved in, but they didn’t worry me since Jackson wasn’t going to work today. Guess the weather hadn’t gotten the memo that Hurricane Morgan had already made landfall last night.

I’d ripped my friends apart, and though I probably should have been nicer—gentler about it—every word I’d spoken had been true. Will would have been horrified and ashamed of me for what I’d put Paisley through.

Jackson had been proud of me for finally being honest.

Careful not to wake him, I rolled slowly in his arms and watched him sleep like the borderline obsessed woman I was. He was so beautiful that my entire body heated just looking at him. It didn’t hurt that he slept shirtless, either. The man was cut in ways that had to be illegal in some states.