He followed.
The inside smelled faintly of salt and old wood, and a ceiling fan hummed overhead. I tossed my pack onto a chair in the corner and sank onto the edge of the bed, the mattress creaking beneath me.
He stood near the window, arms crossed loosely over his chest, backlit by the faint porch light filtering through the screen.
After turning to face me, Alex spoke. "You're not what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
He studied me for a moment. "Someone who sleeps easier."
I flinched. "What gave me away?"
"Your vigilance on the beach and how you scan the room as if you're memorizing exits. My brother had the same habit after his second tour in Afghanistan. Couldn't relax and fall asleep without making sure no one was watching."
I hadn't realized I'd been so transparent or that he'd been paying such careful attention. Most people saw what I wanted them to see—control, competence, calm. Not the cracks underneath.
I reached into my pocket, half out of habit, and pulled out the badge—Dad's. I didn't mean to let it show, but my fingers brushed the metal one too many times. The moonlight caught the edge of it.
Alex saw and tilted his head.
"You keep that with you?"
"Yeah. Everywhere."
He nodded slowly, eyes still on it.
He guessed right that it wasn't mine. "Was he your partner?"
There was no judgment in the question—only gentle curiosity. I laughed.
"No. He was my dad."
I looked down at the badge and ran my thumb along the edge. More words came.
"You're the first person who ever thought he might've been my boyfriend."
I didn't look up, continuing to stare at the badge.
"I think he would've hated that."
Another pause.
"And I hate that it matters."
I didn't expect Alex to say anything. I would've walked out if he'd tried to tell me it didn't matter. I wouldn't have believed him if he'd tried to tell me it was okay.
He didn't do either. He came closer, slow and careful. Sitting down beside me, he didn't touch me or speak.
He was there.
I closed my eyes.
We didn't need to say anything else. Not tonight.
As the silence settled back in, Alex tugged his phone out of his pocket. He held it up without looking at me.
"I don't know what this is or if this is just one perfect night in a storm, but I'd regret it if I walked away without a way to find you again."
