The Coast is Clear (Breakaway Shores #1)

Izzy

Crash Into Me

The road was dark, and my eyes were heavy. Today had been a blast, even with the conversation Zander and I had last night. He’d slept on the couch, and when we woke up, he was sweet and kind. I felt terrible. But he’d given me a hug and kissed my forehead before telling me we would have a good day.

I wanted to take it all back, but I also wanted to protect my boys. They would get over Zander moving away. They’d miss him, sure, but eventually, it would just become a part of our first summer here. It would be a different story if he moved in with us, became a part of our family, and then left.

We’d played in the river and eaten squeaky cheese. It had felt almost like everything was okay, normal. Even if it wasn’t. We were about ten miles from town. I’d insisted on driving, needing to be focused on something. Zander’s eyes were closed in the passenger seat, and I glanced in the rear-view mirror, unable to make out anything in the back two rows. Luke was snoring in the very back. I slapped my cheek and turned up the music just a little bit.

We were moving in two weeks. Two weeks, and we’d finally be in our forever home. A house where the boys could call back to memories and always feel like they had a place to come back to.

I glanced over at Zander again. The shadows danced over his face.

There was a moment, well, longer than a moment, when Jack and I were engaged that I thought it wasn’t going to work out. He had been offered an incredible internship opportunity out of the country, and he really wanted to take it. I wanted him to take it. I didn’t want to hold him back and I thought we could make it work long distance. He turned it down, but sometimes, he’d bring it up when we were stressed or upset. I always felt like he regretted it. Even though I know he loved me, our life, and the time we had together. A part of him always wondered what if.

I hated that.

But I did that still. What if Jack had left the house five minutes later? What if the other car had been slowed down by something else? What if he’d still gotten in the crash but survived? My mind was a series of what-ifs.

I didn’t want it to be that way. Which is why I leaped headfirst into a relationship with Zander. Granted, it took me three years to have the courage to take that step with anybody at all. But I did it. Did I regret it? No, because he was beautiful, and he made me remember that I could be more than just a mom. He made me feel desired, loved, and sexy.

My eyes darted over to Zander for another look, and I saw it too late. Two bright lights coming toward the car. Too fast. Too close.

And then, everything stopped, and all I could hear was the crunch of metal.