But in a strange way, she liked the cold cutting through her clothes, making her shiver, making her eyes tear. She needed the discomfort, the pain. You like the pain. That’s why you were drawn to Cullen Sharpe in the first place. This was different, though. Cullen and his father had left her alone at the house, and the only communication from him had been a note on the counter and those fateful words… DON’T TRY AND FIND ME Ivy hugged herself as she rocked slowly back and forth in the hammock. Why was she still there, hanging around when everyone had gone? She wasn’t sure. There was just a feeling deep inside, in the pit of her stomach. It was telling her to stay put and wait. Unlike before, Ivy couldn’t shake the feeling that Cullen was going to return to her. He’s coming back. He’ll be here soon. Don’t give up on him. So there she stayed, shivering in the descending darkness. Night fell and she could no longer make out the ocean. All that was visible was the beam from the lighthouse across the way.
