Page 113 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

As I started wrapping plates in bubble wrap, I overheard snippets of Lucia and Dominique’s ongoing debate about who was responsible for packing the sea glass. It was a trivial matter but their banter somehow made the task at hand less daunting. Every item wrapped and packed was a step closer to Dallas, to my new beginning with Kannon.

The evening wore on and the apartment gradually transformed into a maze of boxes. The walls, stripped of everything, made it all feel so final. Our voices echoed in the empty space.

“Well, I think that’s it,” Lucia said. “Let’s go party.”

This was the last night I would spend in Miami with my best friends and we were planning to go out and make the most of it. It was a celebration instead of a goodbye. We got dressed, did our makeup, and headed out for our night on the town.

We hit our favorite spots, each one holding a bittersweet memory, a reminder of the times we had laughed and lived so freely. There were mixed emotions throughout the night. There was certainly plenty of excitement for what lay ahead and sorrow for what I was leaving behind.

First stop was the oceanfront bar where I’d celebrated my last three birthdays. We ordered our favorite cocktails, toasting to new beginnings and reminiscing about the old days.

Lucia teared up as she clinked glasses. “Here’s to bigger and better adventures, but man, will I miss these crazy nights with you guys.”

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, grinning. “Hey, I’ll visit, and you guys will visit me. We’ll make sure Dallas knows how to party properly. Maybe not Miami-level, but we can certainly try.”

The night wore on with more laughter, tears, and heartwarming stories into our shared past. It was as if we were trying to absorb as much of each other as possible. I was going to miss them like crazy. It was going to be a difficult adjustment but being with Kannon would certainly make it better.

Next stop was our favorite late-night food joint for some comfort food. Dominique ordered enough fries for an army, laughing as Lucia’s eyes widened at the huge pile of food set before us. Waves of nostalgia washed over us as we sat there, munching on the fries and sipping on our drinks. It was like old times.

After stuffing our faces, the three of us found ourselves at our favorite spot: the quiet marina where we spent too many nights sitting on the edge, legs swinging over the water, engrossed in heart-to-hearts.

Dominique pulled out a bottle of wine, something we had done so many times before. We passed the bottle around, drinking straight from it.

“Do you think you and Kannon will get married?” Lucia asked.

“I don’t know,” I replied. “We’ve only officially been a couple for a few weeks. I think marriage might be rushing it.”

“But you’ve known him forever,” Dominique said. “You two have been in love forever.”

“So it’s like a twenty-year engagement,” Lucia added.

I laughed. “With him being married to another woman during part of that twenty years.”

“That doesn’t count,” Dominique said.

“I don’t know. Honestly, I do think we’re going to be together for the rest of our lives. It’s strange, but it’s just this feeling I have.”

“You’ve always been the patient sort,” Lucia chimed in, rolling the wine bottle between her hands. “We’ll just have to see where life takes you and Kannon.”

I could hear the waves lapping against the boats in the marina, their lines tinging against the metal masts.

“Let’s promise something,” Dominique suddenly said. “No matter what happens or where we end up, let’s make sure we meet up at least once a year. Somewhere, anywhere, but together.”

“That’s a deal,” I told them, raising my hand to clasp it together with theirs.

We stayed there for a while longer, sharing laughter and a few more tears. Eventually, it was time to head back to what was left of my apartment. The silence during the ride home was comfortable, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

I got out of the cab and hugged each of them. I blinked back tears. “I’ll call you guys every day,” I said.

I waved as the cab with my two best friends drove away. I went upstairs and looked around at my empty apartment. I stretched out on my mattress. My phone buzzed. Kannon’s name lit up the screen. My heart gave that familiar little flutter. I swiped to answer.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey, beautiful,” he replied. “How’s the packing going? Surviving the chaos?”

“I’m packed and ready. Your timing is perfect, though. I just got home and was thinking about you. What’s up?”

“I think I found the one,” he said, a note of excitement creeping in.