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“Hey, I want to give you something,” Jack says, holding up a silver ring with a heart design.
“What’s this? You’re not asking me to…”
“Marry you?” He laughs. “No, definitely not. I just want you to know I’m serious about you, that I’m not some playboy who does this with every girl who comes down. Can I put it on you?”
I extend my right hand, and he puts it on my ring finger.
“It actually fits. Wait, I don’t understand though. You got this for me?”
He shakes his head. “It was my Great-Grandmother’s ring. I’ve carried it around for years to remind myself that, good, real love, actually can exist in this world, still.”
“Awww.” My heart warms listening to Jack’s normally hard exterior come down for a moment. “That’s incredibly sweet of you.”
We lay there for a few more minutes, enjoying the peace and quiet of the early morning. Eventually, we reluctantly gather our things and head back to the house, already planning our next beach adventure.
But when I arrive in the room, something is off. I can’t tell what—but my sixth sense kicks in.
“Does the room look different?”
“Uh, yeah it does. Where’s my stuff?” Jack asks. “Someone moved it. I’m going to go and talk to Chester.”
Jack goes and finds Chester, who comes and sees us.
“Hi you guys!” he grins. “I’ve got a huge surprise for you. They just went to get breakfast but…let me text them.”
My gut wrenches for some reason. I have a bad feeling.
A minute later, we hear a cab pull up in front and my sister Nora jumps out.
I smile, but I’m wondering why Chester said, ‘They.’
“Hey, Sis!” I say excitedly. “Oh my God why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
She shrugs. “I thought I’d surprise you.”
“This is, uh…”
“I’m Jack,” Jack says, shaking Nora’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“You’re the phone drowner,” she notes, pulling her hand away.
“He got me a new phone,” I point out.
Still, Nora eyes him suspiciously.
“And I brought you one more surprise,” she says. “He’s bringing the bags.”
As she finishes speaking, I see a familiar figure walking towards us, carrying a suitcase in each hand.
It's Jansen. My heart sinks as I realize that Nora must have invited him here without telling me.
“Amelia,” he says, walking up to me. “Hey.”
My heart throbs. Only, I can’t tell if it’s in pain, or just general surprise.
I glance at Jack and I wish for the life of me I could read Jack’s face, but I can’t. He’s absolutely stoic.
“Hey, Jansen,” I say, as I give him a hug. He gives me a kiss on the cheek.
