Jamie grabs my hand, and I know what he’s about to say before he says it. Because I’ve felt this way a thousand times before. The racing heart, the wild eyes. Adrenaline surging through my veins. Only this time, I’m not bolting alone. Jamie is right here with me, gripping my hand in his like he never wants to let go.
“Run.”
11
WE BURST OUT OF THE SWINGING DOORS AND PRACTICALLY CRASH INTOa startled bellhop, who eyes us with a mixture of amusement and suspicion. “Everything all right, folks?” he asks.
“Peachy!” I gasp, tugging Jamie’s hand and pulling him toward the lobby. “Just… uh… testing the fire escape route.”
The bellhop raises an eyebrow, but thankfully decides not to pursue it. When we reach the lobby lounge, we collapse onto a plush velvet sofa, the kind that practically swallows you whole. A light rain has started drumming against the massive windows overlooking the ocean, but the clouds are moving swiftly over the water, with breaks where sun leaks through. I think about what Ash said when I first arrived; the rain here is beautiful, and it always brings rainbows.
“Okay,” I say, still a little breathless with laughter, “I think we officially owe that bellhop a fruit basket.”
Jamie grins, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Or maybe a lifetime supply of Kauffman Estates Cabernet?”
“Ooh, good call,” I say, nudging him with my elbow. “Think your dad can up production by about 500 percent?”
He raises an eyebrow, looking amused but also a bit confused.
But before he can continue the bit, I spot a familiar-looking green cardboard box sitting on the coffee table among some other games. It’s Monopoly Deal, a card game Jamie and I used to spend a shameful amount of time playing on random rainy Sundays or when we were stuck somewhere like an airport.
“Shall we?” I ask with a faux-formal gesture.
Jamie chuckles. “I thought you swore never to play against me again after what happened last time.”
“I was petty furious Grandma G let you cheat,” I say with a grin. “She always seemed like such an honest woman.” I’m busy shuffling through the cards, so I don’t notice the shadow that’s crossed Jamie’s face until I look up to ask, “How is she, by the way?”
“She… she passed away last year. Around Christmas.”
The news hits me like a punch to the gut. “Oh, Jamie,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
He shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant, but I can see the sadness in his eyes. “Thanks. It was pretty sudden. But we were all able to be there with her. And she lived a good, long life.”
“That doesn’t make it hurt any less.” I reach over to take Jamie’s hand. “She was an amazing woman,” I say, my voice cracking. “She always treated me like family, even when…” I trail off, not wanting to dredge up old wounds.
Jamie squeezes my hand back. “She really liked you, Sybil. She always said you were a bright light in my life.”
We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of the unspoken hanging between us. A year. A whole year we’ve been apart, missing out on each other’s lives, unable to share the joys and sorrows.
Jamie clears his throat, breaking the spell. “What do you say? Care for a rematch? In Grandma G’s honor, of course.”
“Bring it on, Kauffman,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “But don’t expect any mercy this time.”
We settle into a comfortable silence, the familiar drawing and flipping of cards.
After demanding one of my property cards, Jamie breaks the silence. “So,” he says, his voice regaining its playful lilt, “tell me more about this marine biologist boyfriend of yours. What’s his name again? He sounds…” I am certain he’s going to sayfictional,but instead he raises an eyebrow and says, “fascinating.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. At this point, I think it’s obvious we both know where this joke is headed. “Oh, he is. Absolutely fascinating. The total package. You might even call him afantasyboyfriend.”
“You know what else is fascinating,” Jamie says, taking his turn to draw two cards, “is how I have yet to see him even once over these past three days.” I can see the amusement in his eyes. We’re only halfway through the game, but he looks like he’s already won. “Tell me, does his research also include experiments on invisibility? Because thatwouldbe—”
“If you say ‘fascinating’ one more time…” I interrupt.
Jamie just smiles. He’s clearly onto me, the little liar that I am. Would it be so bad if I were to fess up and admit to the whole charade? It would be mortifying, of course, to revealhow insecure and immature I still am. But it seems like Jamie already knows the truth anyway. And when I look at him, really look at him, his eyes are filled with a gentle warmth. A quiet understanding that makes my fears seem silly. He’s not judging me; he’s waiting, patiently, for me to open up.
Just then, his phone rings. He glances at the screen, and his smile falters. “It’s Genevieve,” he says, his voice laced with a hint of apology.
My stomach plummets. Of course. Genevieve.
