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My tears blurred my vision as I looked up at him.
“Don’t ever believe you’re not worthy. You are, bar none, the most amazing human being I have ever known. I need you to understand that my leaving has nothing to do with you not being enough to keep me here. Just the opposite. I’m not enough for you right now. I have so many broken pieces. Please never doubt whether you were enough to make me stay. Alright?”
I nodded through my tears. “I know your life back home is complicated. I understand why you have to leave. I just hope you know you can count on me if you ever need me. I will miss you every single day, and I will never forget all of the things you did for me—teaching me the importance of appreciating my family, making me feel beautiful, helping me come out of my shell. I’ve grown so much just from being around you, Caleb. You might think you’re broken, but you helped put me back together.”
And there it was. The first tear fell from his eyes, proof of how hard leaving was for him and perhaps my biggest proof—although too late—of how much he cared for me.
Wiping his cheek, he spoke with a strained voice. “Take care of yourself, Teagan.” He placed one more long, hard, torturous kiss on my lips before he ripped himself away and headed toward the escalator.
I stood in the same spot watching him until he reached the top. He turned back one more time and saluted me with a kiss. Then he was gone.CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR* * *TEAGAN
THREE MONTHS LATERThough it still felt warm and summery in Boston, the new school year had started, and it was strange not to have my internship at the aquarium anymore. I was currently applying for a new one next semester. I’d heard about an opening with a research project that involved managing a database of environmental data and creating a photo catalog for various types of whales and other marine life—not the most exciting gig, but it would be something to add to my resume.
I was spending a typical afternoon back in my room after class when Kai came to hang out, as she often did when she got home from school.
“Have you heard from Caleb?”
Why does she have to bring him up?
“No.”
“Really?”
“No. We haven’t spoken much.”
My anger flared. Didn’t she realize this was a sensitive topic? Caleb and I weren’t supposed to be in regular touch with each other. That was never the plan. We were just supposed to not lose touch and check in from time to time.
“Don’t you think that’s odd?” she asked.
“Not really. We’re not together,” I said defensively. “We decided it would be best not to suffer through a long-distance relationship. I think if we were talking every day and stuff, that would be odd.”
She didn’t seem to buy that. “So that’s it? He’s just gone from your life?”
I sighed. While I knew things had to be the way they were if Caleb and I were going to move on with our lives, every day that I didn’t hear from him hurt. And I hated that I felt this way. But I understood. I understood why he was giving me space—and why I also had to give him space. Aside from the first couple of weeks after he left Boston, I had only spoken to him a handful of times. He always sounded kind of down when we talked, like it made him sad or something. So I’d stopped trying to initiate it.
“It’s for the best,” I said.
She tilted her head, studying me. “Are you just saying that, or do you mean it?”
“What does it matter? This is the way it has to be. Did his leaving hurt? Yes. But he’s gone. There’s nothing I can do about it. So I have to try to find a way to move on.”
An impish grin spread across her face. “I think I might have just the thing, actually.”
“Uh-oh. What?”
“Luke’s brother is back living at home. He graduated last year and is staying with their parents for a while until he can find his own place. He’s really cute and single.”
Luke was a guy Kai had been dating for a few months. This was the first I’d heard that he had a brother.
“What’s his name?”
“Ethan.”
“Okay. Nice name,” I said, still uninterested.
“Why don’t the four of us go out this weekend?”
I knew that would probably be good for me, but I hesitated. “I’m not sure.”
“What’s the hold up?”
“I’m just not sure I’m ready to start seeing anyone.”
“Okay, but you’re wasting time.”
“I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“You’re only young once. You can’t be hung up on some dude who left for England and is never coming back.”
“I never said I was hung up on Caleb. What makes you think that?”
