“Mmm-hmm.” It’s all I say when the reality is, apparently, I was born to ruin my parents’ years until the end of time. “Son, you came on the first day of the year to remind us of the new life you brought, one of never-ending bills and working until dusk.’ If I had a penny for every time my father reminded me of how much of an inconvenience I was, I would be rich by now.
“Did my pussy eat your words?” I choke on my spit at her words.
“What?”
“Here we go again. What happened to the commanding and talkative Asher, huh? Now we’re back to monosyllables.” What do I say? I’m being careful not to share too much? Because something about you makes me want to put my guard down? Do I tell her I’m afraid if I open my mouth to say anything, the only thing that will come out is how badly I want to see her again but I can’t? I can’t. My job. The distance. Everything.
“I’m a private person, Hailey. But I do like sex.” She looks my way, raising an eyebrow. “I liked sex with you.”
She shakes her head, leading us to the valet and stepping out before either of us can open the door for her. She does the same with the glass door framing the entrance to the gala venue. I speed up to catch up with her, but I can’t, because Travis rushes over the minute he sees me.
“Where were you? We have to go.” He doesn’t say anything else, but his urgency is clear. Something happened; there’s no doubt about it.
“What? Where?” I ask. Hailey is watching attentively.
“I’ll explain in the car, but something happened with Holt. We have to go back.” I shake my head.
“Okay. Got it.” I look back at Hailey, mouthing a sorry. “Give me two minutes.”
Travis looks at Hailey and smiles before tipping an invisible hat and saluting her. “Two minutes.”
Travis walks away, leaving just the two of us standing under a chandelier.
“I guess this is our fate: seeing each other for a few hours on New Year’s Eve while you disappear like Cinderella as the clock strikes midnight,” Hailey adds, pointing at the clock on the wall showing there’s only a minute to midnight.
“I guess so.” She closes the space between us, holding my face and staring right into my soul.
“I’m not in a position to do anything with anyone for more than what tonight was,” she whispers, smiling at me. Good, because neither can I. I just nod. “But let’s say if you find yourself on Amelia Island again next New Year's Eve, you know where to find me.”
The cheers in the distance announce the countdown.
“And what? You’ll be waiting for me?” I ask, and she nods.
“If the stars align and the seasons change, I will wait for our next moment right here. I promise to give you more than a few hours next time.”
I cock my head to the side and consider her. It seems too good to be true. I don’t have to share with her why this is the best case scenario for me.
“What are the parameters?” I ask so at least we’re both on the same page.
“None. Don’t complicate this. If you find someone to love between now and then, just don’t come back. I’ll do the same. If not . . . see you in a year.”
I kiss her lips gently as the crowd erupts into cheers in the distance. “Happy New Year, Hailey. See you next December.”
Our foreheads touch as she whispers against my lips, “Happy Birthday, Ash. See you next December.” She steps back, leaving me empty handed as she sways her hips back to the party.
“See you in twelve months!” she shouts, and I feel her absence even more. I’m destined to miss this girl I barely know forever, but I have no time to question anything. I have no other choice.
I run outside to Travis’ car, where he tells me Holt, one of our friends, was in an accident in North Carolina, where he was waiting for us to start training. As we drive all night to get to him, I think about how, at the very least, for the first time in my life, I have something to look forward to this year. Happy birthday to me.
JUNE, 2027
Dear Hailey,
At the risk of sounding like a stalker I think, I found you. It wasn’t an easy feat, let me say, but after you mentioned your little sister ran the gala, it helped me narrow it down. I hope this is actually you and not a random person I found on the internet. You don’t live on Amelia Island, do you? Maybe that’s why I couldn’t find you the first time. If this isn’t you, I would stop reading right now, because this is about to get awkward as shit.
Pardon me for not writing to you for six months, but I was going through training hell and needed to stay focused. We didn’t talk much about what we do for a living, and I don’t know if you’re willing to share, but you’ll see my return address is a Coast Guard station. That’s accurate, and I can say that this year, at twenty-two, my dream came true. You’re looking, or reading, I guess, at a Class of 2026 graduate of the A School, Aviation Survival Technician—a rescue swimmer, in layman’s terms. This is another reason why our arrangement worked for me. I also am not in the position to be in a relationship with anyone. I did request leave for New Year’s Eve; my new station granted it, so I will be there this December. I already got my ticket and everything. I know yousaid your sister organizes the gala, but if you’re willing to go as my date, I’m attaching a confirmation for your ticket too. Either way, it’ll be okay, whether you show up or I’m there on my own. All the money goes to a good cause, right?
I hope this letter finds you well, and that if you’re still single on December 31st, you meet me at our spot.
