She didn't ask about the others. Not about Rose, or Layla, or Zoey. She simply reached up and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear, her fingers lingering there a moment longer than needed.
"I missed you last night," she said, quietly, her voice like the hush of wind through leaves.
"I didn't sleep much," he admitted. "Too much to think about."
She nodded, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she leaned in, kissed him slowly, a kiss that felt like breathing, necessary, anchoring, and real. For a long moment, they stayed there, their foreheads pressed together.
Footsteps on damp wood pulled them apart. Stella stepped out of the hut, blinking into the morning light. "Are we going out today?"
Jude nodded. "The cliffs again. We need to check if the water path's changed."
Susan stood and stretched, her shirt riding up just enough to tease Jude's gaze. She smiled knowingly and whispered, "Come back to me."