My heart squeezed. Three hours. In three hours, we’d walk into that farmhouse and tell everyone we loved each other. And that we were breaking up.
Ready as I’ll ever be. See you then.
I set my phone down and looked at Mom. “What if telling them makes it worse? What if they get invested and then have to watch us fall apart?”
“They’re already invested, sweetheart. They love you both. They’re going to hurt watching this either way.” She stood, smoothing her hands over her jeans. “But at least if you tell them the truth, they can support you. Be there for both of you. Help you through it instead of wondering what went wrong.”
She left me alone then, and I sat in the quiet of my room. As I stared at the wall, trying to figure out the thoughts spinning through my head, I realised that this guest room had somehow started to feel like mine. That so many things in this town were feeling like mine. Maybe it was time to think about leaving Blue Point Bay. I could move my studio easily. I could travel wherever to shoot, in fact a change of scenario could be a good thing. It could be the shake up my work needed.
But Wren? Leaving Wren would hurt. I swore to myself a long time ago that I wouldn’t leave her side. That I would stick by her always. But she wasn’t alone anymore, even if she never left that damn lighthouse. She had her family back. Maybe she didn’t need me as much any more. Maybe these past couple of months would have helped her and Claire grow closer and… I draped anarm over my eyes. This was madness. How had my life gotten so complicated?
Tonight wasn’t going to really be any less complicated.
Walking in with Dex. Everyone there. The whole family gathered.
We have something to tell you.
We’ve been together. All summer.
We’re in love.
But it’s ending after the wedding.
My stomach churned just thinking about it.
I grabbed my phone intending to text Wren, to somehow figure out how I was going to ask her if she needed me any more. Before I could even think how to word it a text came through from the group chat I was in with Delaney and the other girls.
Blake:Tonight’s the night, right? You’re telling them?
Me:Yes. Assuming I don’t chicken out.
Delaney:You won’t chicken out. You’re braver than you think.
Reece:We’ll be there if you need backup.
Billie:And wine. Lots of wine.
Despite everything, I smiled. These women. This family. They’d become mine so quickly, so completely. How was I supposed to leave them?
How was I supposed to leave any of this?
My phone rang. Wren’s name lit up the screen, and I answered immediately.
“Hey, little sister. I was just about to text you!”
“Don’t ‘little sister’ me. I’m calling to make sure you haven’t done anything stupid.” Wren’s voice was sharp with worry. “Like, I don’t know, decided to end things with the love of your life because you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.”
“Liar.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re annoyingly perceptive?”
“Daily. It’s a gift.” I heard rustling on her end, like she was settling in for a long conversation. “Leigh, seriously. What are you doing?”
“What I have to do. My life is there, Wren. My studio is there. You’re there.”
“And I’ll still be here whether you’re living in Blue Point Bay or not. Your studio can move. Studios exist everywhere. Your work is like the most portable form of work that comes. It literally hangs around your neck.” She paused. “But love like what you have with Dex? That’s rare. That’s once-in-a-lifetime shit. And you’re just going to walk away from it?”
