Chapter 22 Borrowed Time
Borrowed Time
Jaxon stood over the grill, sipping a beer, the heat from the flames warming more than just the food. His eyes drifted to the dock, where the girls sat in a cluster—barefoot, sun-kissed, laughing like summer itself was theirs to keep.
But his gaze always landed on Claire.
And selfishly, he wondered.
What if this was every day?
What if she was every day?
The thought rooted itself in his chest, solid and dangerous. Because in the back of his mind, he already knew what it would feel like when she left.
Like the air would go still. Like something vital had been yanked from him.
He took a deep breath, flipped the steaks, and muttered quietly to himself, “I think I’ve fallen for her.”
Even saying it out loud felt reckless. Chaotic. Unreal.
They hadn’t known each other that long. Not technically. But the connection? The way she looked at him like he was the only steady thing in a spinning world? That didn’t feel like infatuation.
“How long does it take to fall in love, anyway?” he asked the silence.
No answer came.
But across the dock, Claire was looking right at him.
And when their eyes met, something shifted. Something deep. Her chest tightened. Her breath caught in her throat, not from nerves—but from knowing.
This wasn’t casual.
This was soul-deep.
She looked away, closed her eyes, and exhaled slow—like maybe that would dull the ache she already felt creeping in. Because in just a few days, she’d be back in Duluth.
Back to normal.
Back to before Jaxon.
Sara saw it. The flicker of pain in her sister’s face. She reached over without a word and took Claire’s hand.
“I know it feels like there’s no way to win here,” she said gently. “But instead of worrying about what’s coming… how about you just live in this moment?”
Claire leaned her head on Sara’s shoulder, letting her sister’s words settle.
Because she was right.
But knowing didn’t make it easier. Loving someone you couldn’t keep never did.
And the more she fell, the harder it would be to walk away.
Before she could answer, Jaxon’s voice rang out across the yard. “Steaks are ready!”
The girls stood and headed toward the outdoor table, laughter spilling into the breeze as plates clattered and drinks were passed around.
Claire sat beside Jaxon, who didn’t seem to care that their morning had been hijacked by unexpected guests. He just smiled, passed her a plate, and clinked his beer against hers like nothing had been lost.
In that moment, Claire made a decision.
She couldn’t stop time.
But she could feel it.
Every second of it.
And while she still had the island—and Jaxon—she was going to live like she meant it.