“It’s incredible, isn’t it?” Sienna said, shielding her eyes toward the view of a seagull on the horizon. She waded in deeper with tiny shrieks as the water reached her thighs, then her hips, and her waist.
“It is.” Emily studied the surf, pensive.
Blair went back up the sand and dropped her phone into her beach bag. “I know what you need,” she called to Emily. Then, at full speed, she ran toward her, grabbing her arm as she splashed past, dragging her into the cold water.
“Agh, it’s freezing!” Emily protested, falling backward and trying to get her footing.
With a splash, she was in the water, pawing at a laughing Blair.
“You’re too serious,” Blair said, pushing her wet hair away from her face. “You know what hit me the other day?” She raised her hands in the air and did a spin. “Look around. We made it through a tropical storm. And you know what? The sun is shining again. The world keeps going no matter what happens to us. If the sun can shine after a storm, so can we!” She pushed herself toward Emily and gave her a playful splash.
Sienna swam over to them. “She has a point.” She lay back in the water, floating, and closed her eyes.
“You’re so right,” Emily said. She addressed Blair. “How did you manage at your lowest? How did you get to the other side?”
Blair moved her arms in a breaststroke through the ripples of the calm Gulf to reach Emily. “I managed by having you and Sienna. And we’re going to get you to the other side too.”
Fondness for her friends bubbled up. Until that moment, Emily hadn’t really realized what being there for Blair had done. And now on the other end, as a recipient of that support, she knew she couldn’t get through her own trials without them.
They’d floatedon the water for so long that Emily still felt the swish-swashing of the tide while she was in the shower. She took her time, lathering every inch of her skin and adding in extra conditioner, before she dried her hair, applied her peach lotion, and put on a light sundress. Her cheeks were pink from spending all day in the sun, so she only needed some moisturizer and lip gloss. This evening, she was getting spruced up for herself. They were leaving tomorrow, so she was ready to make the most of her last evening there.
She, Sienna, and Blair had spent the whole afternoon talking and planning out their final night together. Sienna suggestedturning on the lights around the pool, lighting candles, and maybe playing a game or two of cards, since she’d bought them a deck that they’d yet to use. Blair had run out to the market that had reopened and bought fixings for piña coladas. And they were sure Patrick would show up with something delicious to eat.
That was what had been on Emily’s mind most of the afternoon. She was going to have to tell him goodbye tonight.
It shouldn’t be a problem, she’d told herself.
So why was this tug in her heart so strong?
TWENTY-NINE
Emily had realized that their idea to have Julia, Winston, and Stormy come over with Patrick was a good one. She texted Patrick to suggest it and, since it was a workday, asked him not to worry about dinner—maybe they could grill hot dogs or something. It would be good to see Winston and Julia again before she left, and having them there would ensure that she and Patrick weren’t on their own. Because if they were left alone, and he had a chance to sway her with those blue eyes of his, she wasn’t sure she’d be strong enough to resist.
Now, only minutes from their arrival, the anticipation of seeing Patrick bubbled up, mixed with the dread of having to return to her life back in Nashville. But when the doorbell chimed, eagerness won over, and Emily was the first to offer to let him in.
“Emily!” Winston wrapped his little arms around her waist as Stormy slipped past them into the house.
“Hi! Sorry, I’ll get the dog.” Julia anxiously rushed in after Stormy. “You can’t run through the mansion…” she called out.
Winston dropped his arms. “I’ll help!” He ran after his mom.
Patrick stood opposite Emily in the doorway. “Hi,” he said with a chuckle, the weight of thoughts behind that single word.
“Hi,” she returned.
A buzz of electricity shot between them.
“I didn’t have hot dogs, so I’m making pizzas. Prosciutto and fig for the grown-ups, and cheese for Winston.”
“Sounds fancy for us, given that we thought we were having hot dogs. We’d have been fine with cheese,” she said.
“I’m trying to impress you with my ability to provide a culinary feast on the fly,” he teased.
“I think you’ve achieved that already.” She ushered him inside.
“You saying I’ve impressed you?”
She nodded playfully, the ache in her heart already forming. The night was just beginning, and she already didn’t want it to end.
