My gaze drops to the path that leads away from the main courtyard. It tempts me, lures me.
I remind myself I’m not seeking a connection to Chance, just a reminder of happier, more innocent times. Before I fell for a deceiver.
I break away from the party and take the lit-up path. It’s ethereal walking down it.
Every step reminds me of those moments with Chance beside me. And now there’s no one, just the sounds of the night to keep me company.
I zero in on the chirping crickets and the gentle sway of the tree branches, letting it soothe me.
The sounds of the party fade, as does the sunshine. Darkness swallows everything by the time I make it to the inner garden, but the fountain bubbles with light shining from within.
Warmth threads through my heart as a flicker of hope threads through me. If I can still find little things beautiful, then I’m not completely broken. Just bent.
A sad smile ticks up my lip. Tears come down, but they don’t break my heart. I wipe both cheeks, glad there’s no one here to see it.
It’s just me, and the memories.
I’d miss this hidden garden, the island, and my friends. Julia and Baxter’s faces flash through my head.
A laugh bubbles up my throat. Julia’s always pumped for everything and Baxter always found a way to push Chance’s buttons.
And Chance always played right into it.
Despite how he reacts, I doubt he minds Baxter too much.
I could have sworn I caught him smiling once when Baxter was acting up. And then the day we played tennis at his house. He had been a different person then, much like the person that took me to the beach.
He was free and laughed easily. And happy.
Knowing now what I do about his mom, it makes sense how he held back. How he resisted being anything but serious.
My heart squeezes for him. The only thing I can hope for is that this period has impacted him positively. And it’d remain so.
Even if I won’t be here to see how it turns out.
I force a smile, despite the sad lump that grows in my throat. Soon enough, I’ll be up and away from here, and everything that has happened would be history.
Leaves crunch behind me.
My heart leaps into my throat. Someone’s here. Maybe it’s him. Just the way I was drawn here, maybe he is too.
I turn around. My eyes catch on the blond highlights in brown hair and my heart plummets. “T-Todd?”
He steps forward. “I’m here, babe.”
I frown at the smug look in his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
My gaze snaps left and right. It’s only us. But how’s that possible? I asked him to leave when he showed up at the office. I wasn’t interested and I wanted nothing from him. He agreed to leave, but here he is. How?
“Came to see you, babe.” His eyes squint, head tilted. “Isn’t that obvious?”
“Last you told me was that you’re leaving Magic Island.”
“Well, I decided not to. Not without you anyway.”
“Excuse me?”
Todd draws nearer. I’m too shocked to move and the moment he stops before me, his heavy cologne claws up my throat. I only keep from gagging because his fingers run down my cheek.
