Cam had requested that Isabel accompany him back to his place, his high-rise loft in downtown Denver.

The same place—that was clearly his wife’s place.

Isabel noted that nothing appeared out of place. Of course, it was clean. He had people for that. There were so many pictures around of them. So many tributes to her. It was stupid, but Isabel felt a bit sad about the fact that Cam was so in love with his wife. She knew her jealousy was just plain dumb.

She was standing, facing downtown Denver, looking out through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The same ones that oversaw Storm Stadium.

Cam had asked her to come, had held her hand during the ride with his driver back to his place, but he hadn’t spoken. She’d heard yelling in the morgue, and as much as she wanted to rush in and comfort him, she’d given him space.

After all, they were friends.

“I have to go down there tomorrow. We have a game in two days.”

Cameron was next to her, offering her a bottle of water.

She took it. “Thanks.” She opened it and drank nearly the whole thing. She couldn’t remember when she’d last eaten or drank anything. All of her thoughts had been consumed with finding him, helping him. It had been like she was part of a birth because this was almost exactly how she felt after the rush of it all was over.

Exhausted.

This was the place where he belonged with his wife didn’t allow space for her.

The cruise ship had been different. An escape. A place she would always be grateful for. Unfortunately, none of that translated into this world. Disappointment filled her. She would never belong in this world. Into his world. Not how things were. How he was. He was at the start of the healing process.

“I need to go,” she whispered, not moving

Jolting a bit, he turned to her. “You can stay. I have a guest bedroom.”

Gently, she put her hand on his forearm. “No, I can’t, Cam.”

Their eyes held, and he seemed to know what she knew.

Slowly, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” She moved toward the front door where she’d put down her luggage.

“Wait. We need …” He was next to her, picking up her luggage and holding it, not letting her move any further. “We should talk about … everything.”

She let out a long breath. “Timing.”

He blinked. “What?”

“Your sister.”

He let out a sigh. “That book she gave you.”

“Persuasion.” She smiled. “You call me when you can.”

His face registered her meaning, and he slowly walked with her toward the front door. “You’re going back to Fort Collins?”

She nodded.

Putting down her suitcase and wedging a foot against the door, he pulled out his phone and clicked for a minute. “Well, you’re going helo style.”

She laughed, and flutters filled her. “Are you serious?”

He nodded. “Let me take you up to the roof. My guy is firing it up right now.”

Unable to believe she would really be showing up to her home on Cameron Cruz’s helicopter, she was hesitant to get in. To leave him.

“I’ll come with you,” Cam offered, moving to get in.

The helicopter was already on, the blades making a loud noise. Her suitcase was already on board. She put her hand up. “No.” Then she hugged him.

He hugged her back.

Pulling back, she smiled at him. “Thank you.”

Softly, he leaned in, brushing his lips to hers. “No, thank you.” He let go. “You are going to get everything you’ve ever wanted in life. I know it.” He winked at her.

She nodded and turned to get in.

The pilot strapped her in and put a headset on her, explaining some things about safety, but all she could think about was that she really was leaving the man she’d fallen in love with. She didn’t know if she’d ever see him again.

He was waiting by the door for the pilot to finish. “I want to hear what med school you go to.”

Hope filled her. Yes, this was the beginning. The real beginning. “I’ll text you if your sister lets you keep your phone.”

A real smile washed over his face. “You better.”

As the helicopter took off and she watched Cameron get smaller and smaller, she felt such gratitude and partly disappointment. The trip had been so different than she ever would have thought, but she had healed. But, she’d also … fallen in love with a guy who might never love her back.

She thought of her son, and warmth filled her. She thought of Rick and actually felt peace. If peace was all she got, then it had to be enough.