Chapter 257. Hiding Secrets

Aurora’s POV

That evening, the breeze carried a salty whisper as we made our way down to the beach, the sky brushed in fading hues of lavender and tangerine. The sand was cool beneath our feet, and the rhythmic crashing of waves was like a balm I hadn’t realized I needed. Maggie had her shoes in her hand, looking far too proud of her decision to walk barefoot, and Ashton had rolled his jeans up to his knees, already daring the waves to splash him. But it was Avery, with her eyes wide and lips slightly parted in awe, who made the moment unforgettable.

I watched her, the way she stood still as if afraid the scene would disappear if she moved too fast. And then, without warning, she turned around and threw her arms around me. “Thank you,” she whispered into my shoulder, squeezing tightly. “I finally got to see it.”

My heart squeezed. “You’ve never been to the beach before?” I pulled back slightly to look at her, surprised. “But it’s right here—barely a fifteen-