on as long as she could, I guess. But in the end the pain of it was too much.”
He nudged Midas closer to Eris, close enough that he could take one hand and cup my cheek. “There’s more to it, isn’t there?”
I blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“I mean it’s tragic that you lost your mother. It’s tragic how you lost your mother, but I can read you, Eden. There’s more to it than that. I’m sure of it.”
He was like a hound on a scent.
“We were estranged,” I admitted. “I hadn’t spoken to her in years. Guilt, Hadrian. What you pick up on is guilt.”
His eyes saddened. “I know a thing or two about guilt.”
A serene ride on the beach lifted most of the melancholy from the atmosphere, and by the time we returned to the house for lunch, my spirits had lifted almost completely. Ingrid greeted us with a smile and hot sandwiches—her version of a Philly cheese steak, but with mutton.
“Bran is asking when you’re coming to visit,” Ingrid said as she set down a napkin in front of Hadrian who’d taken a stool at the counter. “He wants to show you what he can do with a football.”
“Who’s Bran?” I asked as I lifted the sandwich to my mouth.
“My youngest grandson,” Ingrid explained. “He worships the ground Hadrian walks on.”
The faintest trace of color appeared high on Hadrian’s cheekbones and he kept his eyes downcast. “He’s a good lad,” he muttered.
“Where is Bran?” I asked with sudden interest.
“On the next island over. His parents tend to the livestock,” Ingrid said. “You haven’t seen the neighboring islands yet, have you?”
“Not yet,” I said.
She looked at Hadrian with an accusing look. “Have you kept the poor girl chained to your bed?”
I choked audibly on my sandwich as my cheeks flamed. I attempted to chew quickly and swallow.
“If you were anyone else,” Hadrian said mildly, “I’d tell you to mind your own business.”
She let out a delighted laugh and they both smiled. It was nothing short of familial, the way they spoke to one another.
Hadrian took a sip of water from his glass and cleared his throat. “If Eden wants to spend the afternoon being subjected to your family’s scrutiny, then we’ll come and see them.”
I shot Ingrid a look. “Oh, yeah, I definitely want to see the other islands.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Hadrian said with feigned darkness.
After we finished lunch, we took a power boat to a neighboring island. We stepped foot onto the beach as a gaggle of children ran to greet us, the adults following at a more sedate pace.
Hadrian wrapped his arm around me and then introduced me in Norwegian. Ingrid’s family called out greetings in English, their smiles open and welcoming. It took all of my willpower not to gawk as they treated Hadrian with casual affection.
The few teenage girls in the mix hung back, appearing enthralled and yet nervous about Hadrian’s brutal virility. I felt their plights like they were my own. I understood their confusion. Hadrian’s presence was naturally overwhelming, even to a grown woman.
A young boy, who had to be Bran since he had a soccer ball tucked underneath his arm, darted forward to boldly stand in front of Hadrian. He craned his neck back and said, “You owe me a rematch.”
My gaze darted from the boy to Hadrian, who was grinning down with a smile I’d never seen across his face. I couldn’t place it, but it was genuine, open, and full of yearning.
“You sure you’re ready for a rematch?” Hadrian asked, rolling up the sleeves of his button-down shirt.
“I’ve been practicing,” the boy said.
“Good,” Hadrian said. He looked at me. “Would you like to play?”
I shook my head and lifted my foot to show him a boot. “I’m not really dressed for it.”
He grinned. “I guess you’ll have to cheer me on from the sidelines.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be cheering for Bran.”
Bran glanced up at me and grinned, revealing the gap from a missing tooth. He hastily brushed a long mop of dark hair out of his eyes. “I’m going to win for you, then.”
I tried to hide my smile at Bran’s bold arrogance but failed and let out a laugh. When he was finished with his proclamation, he latched himself to Hadrian’s side and gazed up at him in boyish worship and imitated Hadrian’s natural swagger.
Ingrid linked her arm with mine and took it upon herself to be my shadow. The pack of Ingrid’s