Chapter 16

Bridget refuses to explain herself and heads to bed, leaving Lucy stung. Felix follows to confront Bridget, their raised voices hinting at hidden issues before the house falls silent. With neither sibling returning, Lucy cleans up with Zach, who notes Lucy calling him “Felix” and reminds her he has feelings. Felix announces a walk and slips outside with a bottle of rye.

When Felix doesn’t return, Lucy goes to the moonlit beach and finds him. They spread a blanket, share the bottle, and sit together in charged quiet. Felix reveals frustration with Bridget’s secret keeping and asks if he should worry about Lucy. He presses for real updates on her life, sounding raw and a little drunk, and invites her to talk.

Relaxing beside him, Lucy admits she’s been consumed by work at the flower shop and installations, possibly alienating Farah. When Felix asks if she still loves the job, Lucy confesses mixed feelings: she loves the creative work but not the management and desk-bound tasks that have overtaken her life.

Felix gently asks about “her farm,” prompting Lucy to revisit a long-suppressed dream of a cut-flower farm and greenhouse. She describes fields of sunflowers, salvia, cosmos, and dahlias. The conversation, hand squeezes, and shared vulnerability intensify their connection, while Bridget’s reasons remain concealed, heightening personal and romantic stakes.