The Girl Who Came Back
The beach suddenly felt too quiet.
The fire still crackled.
Music still drifted through the cool night air.
Someone laughed somewhere behind him.
But Jace couldn’t hear any of it.
His entire world narrowed to the blonde woman standing a few feet away.
Camille Bennett.
Three years.
Three years since she’d walked away without looking back.
Three years since she’d shattered his heart so completely he’d convinced himself he’d never let anyone get that close again.
And now…
She was here.
Looking at him like she belonged.
The group followed his stare.
Nobody spoke.
Even Tyler slowly lowered his drink.
Camille shifted awkwardly, tucking a strand of short blonde hair behind her ear.
She looked different.
More polished.
More expensive somehow.
The kind of confidence that came from never being told no.
But her eyes…
Her eyes looked nervous.
“Hi, Jace.”
Two words.
That’s all it took to make every memory he’d spent years burying come crashing back.
Football games.
Late-night drives.
First kisses.
Promises.
The day she left.
Jace let out a dry laugh.
Not because anything was funny.
Because if he didn’t laugh…
he might actually remember what it felt like to love her.
“You’ve got some nerve.”
Camille flinched.
“I know.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t think you do.”
Silence settled between them.
The rest of the group exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Nobody knew what to say.
Nobody knew whether to leave.
Camille swallowed.
“Can we talk?”
“No.”
His answer came so quickly it surprised even him.
“I just—”
“I said no.”
For the first time since she’d arrived, Camille looked genuinely hurt.
She nodded once.
“I deserve that.”
“Damn right you do.”
Behind him, Alexis reached for Malakai’s hand.
Even she could feel the years of pain hanging between them.
Madi stood frozen near the fire, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
She should’ve felt bad for Camille.
She didn’t.
Instead, something she couldn’t explain settled inside her chest.
Relief.
Good.
He wasn’t forgiving her.
He wasn’t smiling.
He wasn’t running back.
Good.
Alexis stepped beside her.
“You okay?”
Madi shrugged.
“I’m fine.”
“You look tense.”
“I’m not.”
Alexis followed her gaze.
Straight to Jace.
Then back to Madi.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Jace shoved his hands into his pockets.
“I’m leaving.”
Camille took one small step toward him.
“Please.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then quietly said,
“You should’ve begged three years ago.”
And walked away.
The sound of the ocean swallowed his footsteps.
Nobody moved until he disappeared into the darkness.
Malakai wrapped an arm around Alexis’s shoulders.
“Come on.”
She looked back one last time.
Camille still hadn’t moved.
She stood alone beside the bonfire while everyone else slowly drifted back into conversation.
Alexis leaned against Malakai as they started walking toward the parking lot.
The cool breeze tangled through her hair.
“Two more weeks,” Malakai murmured.
“Hm?”
“Until summer.”
She smiled.
“You’re really counting?”
“I’m counting every day until football camp is over too.”
Alexis bumped his shoulder.
“We’ll be okay.”
He looked down at her.
Completely certain.
“Nothing’s gonna come between us.”
She believed him.
Completely.
Behind them…
Jace stood at the edge of the shoreline staring out at the black water.
He heard footsteps crunch through the sand.
He didn’t have to turn around.
He knew who it was.
Camille stopped beside him.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
Only waves crashed against the shore.
Finally…
she whispered,
“I never stopped thinking about you.”
Jace closed his eyes.
Then opened them again.
“You should’ve thought about me before you left.”
He walked away without another glance.
Leaving Camille standing alone beneath the moonlight.
For the first time since coming back…
she wondered if she’d already lost him forever.
