At home, they dodged the boxes scattered throughout the living room and kitchen, a reminder of how much work still needed to be done at their new place. If only she could find some time to deal with it.

Grant went into the kitchen for a glass of water.

Stephanie followed and saw him pop a pill that he chased with the water. “What’re you taking?”

“Sleeping pill.” He turned to her, weariness clinging to him like a heavy blanket. “Desperate times…”

“Where’d you get it?”

“David.”

“So that’s where you were earlier?”

“Yeah. Sorry to have worried you.”

“Oh,” she said, blowing out a sigh of relief. At least he hadn’t been with Abby. “I thought…” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

“What did you think?”

She shook her head again. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Where did you think I was, Steph?”

“I didn’t know. No one knew. We were worried. We’ve been worried.”

“You didn’t think I was with someone else, did you?”

“I hoped not.”

He let out a huff of indignation. “Really? I’m off your radar for a couple of hours, and you have me with another woman?”

“Not just any other woman.”

His brows knitted with confusion. “Who?”

“Abby’s home.”

His genuine surprise at that news was further comfort to Stephanie. “She is? With Cal?”

“Apparently, that’s over.”

“Huh. That’s surprising.” He met her gaze, his blue eyes dull and flat. “So you thought I might be with her.”

“It crossed my mind.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Unbelievable.”

Stephanie’s stomach hurt, and her heart beat fast and erratic. “What am I supposed to think? You’ve been completely out of it since the accident, brooding in silence, not sleeping, not writing, not talking to me or anyone. And then you go missing the same day your ex-girlfriend returns to the island, suddenly single again. What would you think if you were me?”

“I wouldn’t think that! We’re engaged. I made a commitment to you. I’m not going to cheat on you the first chance I get. Give me some credit, will you?”

Stephanie wanted to scream and yell and pound her fists on his chest. Whatever it took to get him to tell her what had him so wound up in knots. For now, she was grateful he was talking to her about something. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have gone there.”

“No, you shouldn’t have.”

Her insecurities had caused them trouble in the past, and the last thing they needed now was more of that kind of trouble. “You know my weak spots. I can’t help that I go right to worst case.”

“Don’t go there. I’m not interested in her. I’m interested in you.”