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Woods

It was time for the end-of-summer beach bonfire The past twoto coht the week before last to tellsex on the kitchen table She'd been so excited to have a dream that didn't contain the horrors of her past that she'd been ready to play it out in real life

It was a pretty daood way to wake up

I watched as she held Nate and danced around with hih the speakers Blaire was in Rush's lap and they atching Della with their son She was beautiful I wanted to see her dance around and laugh with our baby I wanted her to have a child to love the way she was never loved I wanted to knoe had created soether

"She's happy," Jace said

"She's perfect," I replied

Jace laughed and slapped o ahead and do it You know you want to Put that little ring on her finger"

"I'hed "Yeah, I's are looking better She's stopped running off to bars I think she just had a dark ti tiain That helps"

Jace hadn't shown up onthings were better "Good Glad you two are working it out"

"Oh, shit Is that Nan?" Jace said, pointing her out to ht she left and went to Paris for the suain" Grant wasn't at the party; he was out of town That was happening a lot lately He would show up for a couple of days then leave again I was just glad he wasn't wasting time with Nan

"Grant has moved on If Nan's back, then he'll be fine She was a bad mistake He knows that now"

Jace let out a lohistle "She's with August Schweep What, did she bring hiust is our new golf pro We needed ust hurt his rotator cuff his pro career was over He wants to retire here, so he bought the Spencer house He's working for me now"

"Looks like Nan is all over that"

"Good At least it's not Grant"

Jace snorted "Ain't that the truth"

I was going to get Della and take her for a walk The dark beach was a great place to get her alone Turning, I glanced out over the water and saw Bethy staggering out to the waves She knew better than that There was a red flag up Had been all week The riptides were intense and it was dark You don't swiulf in the dark

"Jace, ?" I asked, afraid to takenow? She was drinking tequila shots earlier and I cut her off She'd had enoughshit!"

"She's getting too deep," I said, taking a step toward the water Jace took off running toward the water I followed behind him I heard someone scream from the crowd as Bethy's head went under the water No This couldn't be happening

Jace dove into the waves and took off toward her I pulled my shirt off, afraid it would slowling screaht it Please don't fight it You'll go under and won't have the strength to rise back up," Jace was yelling as he swarab her just as the deathly pull of a rip current grabbed hi No

"I need you to take her, Woods!" Jace yelled over the water's roar

"Give ot this Take her, da!" Jace yelled