Chapter 369 : All the Time in the World

*Lauren*

The docks loomed ahead, seagulls crying above and boat motors whirring on the water, the scent of salt and diesel filling the air. I spotted Lucas immediately, his tall frame towering over the busy deckhands as they ran around.

I reached the docks just as Aidan's figure grew smaller in the distance, his back turned to us, leaving without so much as a glance over his shoulder. The salty air clung to my skin, the usual comforting scent of the sea now tainted by a sense of unease.

"Hey," I called out, approaching him.

He turned, relief washing over his sun-kissed face. "You're here fast. Thanks for that." He took a deep breath.

"Are you okay?" I asked, stepping closer. His normally tan skin appeared a shade paler than before. “What happened?”

"I’m fine and so is everyone else. It’s just Aidan, thankfully—well, not for him. Food poisoning, I think," he grimaced, rubbing his abdomen lightly.