“Peach, let’s talk a minute.”

“All right,” she said, looking up at me.

We sat down on the couch.

“I’m sorry I tried to push you into us living together. I understand now that you weren’t ready, and that’s okay. Can we just agree to take things day-to-day until we’re both comfortable with where we are?”

“Yes. I want that, too. I love you so much, Emmett, and I’m sorry I blew up at you. I was afraid to admit I wanted the same things, because I was having so many mixed feelings . . . and the guilt of Alec being gone while we were still alive—playing house—It was too much, too soon. When you said you wanted to live together, it was hard to accept we were moving on without him,” she smiled softly.

“Peach, I know this is going to be an emotional trip for both of us, but I also think Alec would want us to witness the beauty of this place, as well. Where I had expected constant anxiety, I now feel at peace about this trip. It’s much better than I had thought it would be. I know we’ve waited a long time to say our goodbyes. It’s been a burden on both of us, dreading and knowing that, eventually, the day would come, but needing that closure at the same time. I hope and believe we’ll find the peace we need.”

She looked relieved and sank back against my chest. “Thank you. That’s exactly what I needed to hear. I’m so happy to be here, happier than I thought I’d be. You’re right. I do have a kind of relief. This trip was the best idea, and I’m so relieved about coming.”

“Let’s go for that walk.”

We walked along the beach and down to a few shops. Sam found quite a lot of supplies and was excited about what she was going to make. I could practically see the ideas flowing through her mind. Once again, it felt like she was cleansing my black soul. How I was ever lucky enough to have her in my life, I’ll never know, but I’d spend the rest of it trying to show her just how happy she made me.

It was finally the day, the day to celebrate Alec’s life and to say our goodbyes. We’d gotten the things we needed to make our floating lantern and had written our messages to him on the panels. It felt cathartic to say all the things I’d been thinking, how I would always love and remember him, how sorry I was for being selfish, but he deserved to know how I felt about Emmett, that telling him had been the right thing to do in order for us all to move forward, how I hoped he’d be happy Emmett and I had found each other again, how I was sorry if he felt betrayed in his last moments, and that I wished him nothing but peace.

With tiki torches lighting our path to the beach, we headed down to the water and lit our candles in the lantern. The sun was setting in orange and red hues. Emmett’s messages were on the opposite side of mine, and it was as if we wrapped Alec’s lantern in a cocoon of our love. That, in and of itself, was truly peaceful.

Emmett and I held hands and kissed the top of the lantern before setting it into the water. Just the feel of his hand in mine gave me the strength I needed to say goodbye. Setting it afloat, we watched Alec’s lantern leave the shore, it was beautiful and serene. We watched until we couldn’t see it anymore.

We spent that night on the beach and slept under the stars, cuddled in one another’s arms, cherishing that we still had each other, and had overcome the odds against us. After all that time, finally saying our goodbyes had lifted a tremendous weight from our souls, and we at last felt a measure of peace.

We spent the rest of our trip playing on the beach and swimming in the ocean. We snorkeled in the reefs and saw all the beautiful, amazing fish and corals. Their colors were vivid. I loved the sea turtles. They were majestic and graceful old souls.

I couldn’t stop myself from peeking up at Emmett’s sexy body as he swam ahead of me. The way his muscles flexed made me hunger for him. He would catch me looking, and the cutest smirk would cross his face. I knew he was thinking the same as I was. It was a good thing we were of like minds, as our nights grew hotter and steamier.

Emmett longed to surf, so I read in the sun while he rode the waves. It wasn’t something on my bucket list, but I enjoyed watching him from afar. Sometimes he would catch one just right and smile all the way in, filling me with pride and joy. That night after dinner, we returned to the beach and splashed each other like children, running through the water. I tackled him, and we ended up in a heated kiss as I lay across his chest, and the warm waves flowed around us like a scene out of From Here to Eternity.

It was surreal being there in Emmett’s arms. I vowed to myself, never to push him away again. What we had was real and special, and for the first time since finding out that Emmett and Alec were brothers, I finally felt peace about us being together. I knew I could move forward with him, and felt ready to take that next step.

“Emmett, I want to tell you something.”

He tensed, staring into my eyes. “What is it, Peach?”

I snuggled into his chest and smiled up at him as the waves washed up from the shoreline. “I’m ready for us to spend more time together. I missed you so badly following our fight, and after being here together, I know I can’t go back to the way it was without you. It would break me. I love you so much. Let’s try again.”

He smiled the biggest smile I’d ever seen. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time, Peach. I love you too, more than I’ll ever be able to show you, but I’ll damn well try.”

“Hey, Riley. Come on in. The beer’s in the fridge,” I said.

“What’s up, Emmett? Haven’t seen you since you got back from Hawaii. How’d it go? That floating lantern thing sounded like a cool idea,” Riley said, leaning against the counter with the beer in his hand.

“It was unreal. I mean, my little brother, man. I just, God . . . sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s true, but then setting Alec’s lantern afloat made it so damn real. I didn’t think anything could hurt as bad as when I stood in the hallway in that hospital and realized it was him, lying underneath that sheet. But I was wrong, Riley. So damn wrong. Sam was great though. The service was amazing. She found this song to play while we said our goodbyes, ‘In Loving Memory’ by Alter Bridge. Play it sometime, man, and just listen to the words.”

“Yeah, I’ll Google it.”

“It was perfect. It felt like he was there with us. It was the most peaceful I’ve felt in a long time. I just couldn’t get our last words out of my mind. But now I feel better about Alec, and I think everything will be okay.”

Riley took a swig of his beer and stretched out on my couch. “Oh, man, I know it’s been hard for you. At least you and Sam are finally together again and working things out. Y’all are the real deal, ya know. You two have that whole soul-mate shit going on. Everyone can see it.”

“Listen, man, I know this is going to make me sound like a girl, but I don’t care. I’m so damn excited. I thought of the best gift for Sam.”

“What—” Riley began.

“I was planning to tell Peach about Alec’s engagement ring while we were in Hawaii, but the time never felt right. She’s never seen it. I thought it would be too hard for her. I’m taking it to a jeweler in the morning to have the diamond set in an infinity symbol pendant. I hope giving it to her in this form will make it easier to accept. It won’t be such a blow, like seeing the actual engagement ring he’d picked out for her.