They say time heals all wounds, but some cut too deep—or so I thought.

I've built a life I love and am proud of in Sandcastle Cove, running the bar, keeping things simple, and enjoying my single life. I don't need anyone, especially not Parker—the boy who shattered my heart and left me to pick up the pieces after we lost everything.

Then he walks back into town. But he's no longer that scared, reckless seventeen-year-old; now he's a man—steady, confident, and determined to make amends. He says he's here to stay and ready to fight for us.

But what does he expect? That I'll just hand him my heart again? Forgiving him feels impossible. Trusting him? Even harder. Yet every time our eyes meet, it reminds me of what we once had, and my walls crack a little more, making me wonder if it's worth risking my heart again.