“#e sound of a breaking wave echoed across the water. “I havedoubts. I get afraid, same as anyone.” Simon’s eyes glazed over. Butthen they refocused and he smiled at me. “Nothing is for certain.Except maybe one thing.”“What’s that?”“If you don’t have any dreams, then they won’t come true.”

“Hathin stared out across the water and deliberately let her eyes unfocus slightly. It did no good lodging your gaze on the waves as they slid and fractured. The trick was to see nothing and everything, until you started to notice any tear or break in the rhythms of the water.”

“But nothing. The way you’re looking at me right now? This is exactly why I didn’t tell you.” I closed my eyes. “I won’t live like that anymore, Trav. Not even with you.”“Whoa! Calm down, Pigeon. Let’s not get carried away.” His eyes focused and he walked over to wrap me in his arms. “I don’t care what you were or what you’re not anymore. I just want you.”“I guess we have that in common, then.”He led me to the bed, smiling down at me. “It’s just you and me against the world, Pidge.”I curled up beside him, settling into the mattress. I had never planned on anyone besides myself and America knowing about Mick, and I never expected that my boyfriend would belong to a family of poker buffs. I heaved a heavy sigh, pressing my cheek against his chest.“What’s wrong?” he asked.“I don’t want anyone to know, Trav. I didn’t want you to know.”“I love you, Abby. I won’t mention it again, okay? Your secret’s safe with me,” he said, kissing my forehead.”

“I don’t have any money to speak of. And if I did, what’s there to say? They say money talks, but it doesn’t talk to me. Money won’t even look at me half the time.”

“You’re strong enough to stand up to anyone. Smart enough to do anything you want. Don’t sell yourselfshort; don’t be afraid of what your new life is going to offer. Because I know—if there’s any justice in thisworld, good things are going to come to you. Better things than you ever dreamed.”

“I’m afraid you’re going to break me, Quinn.” “Don’t let me.” The challenge in his eyes intensified, heating up and pouring strength into me. “Don’t you let me fucking do that, Emilie. Don’t let anyone break you. You’re stronger than that.”