My mom stills beneath my arms.
“I love you, too,” I whisper against her cheek. “I wish for a brighter future for all of us, whether I’m here or not.”
My parents stay silent as I round the desk to give my dad a brief hug. Because despite the ache in my chest, they are still my parents. They raised me, provided for me, and took care of me. I will always love them for that.
But I can love them from afar, too.
I don’t look back when I leave.
The night air feels muggy as I sprint back to the pool house. My soul feels bruised, and I need Brandon right now more than ever. I kick off my shoes, tiptoe to his room, and nudge open the door.
His bed is still made.
A tiny smile eases the ache in my chest, because I know exactly where he’s waiting for me.
My bedroom door creaks, then falls silent. My bed is mussed, but there’s no sign of him. Frowning, I pad around the pool house. The living room window catches my eye, and I can make out a silhouetted form sitting in front of the moonlit ocean.
I don’t bother putting back on my shoes as I race out of the pool house and toward the gap in the fence. I hike my black midi-dress to mid-thigh so I can run faster. My long hair whips back from my face as I call his name.
“Brandon!”
He turns just enough that I can make out the texture of his wavy hair. I’m panting by the time I reach him. He’s sitting in the sand, knees propped between the circle of his elbows. His white linen shirt is only partially buttoned, the loose edges wafting in the night breeze. But his eyes don’t meet mine, remaining fixed on the water.
“What are you doing out here?” I pant.
My question is met with silence, interrupted only by the lapping waves.
Brandon doesn’t address me before he speaks. “It wasn’t hard falling in love with you, Kate.”
My jaw falls slack, and he finally looks up at me.
“You know I love you, don’t you? You must, by this point.” He stands, calmly dusting his sandy palms off on his black shorts. “But do you loveme, Kate?”
The pounding in my chest responds before I even utter a syllable.
Of course I do.
I don’t think I ever stopped loving him.
But the anguish in his eyes confuses me.
“What’s going on, Brandon?” I scan the surroundings. “Why are you out here?”
“Just answer me,please.” His last word escapes on a pained breath. “Do youloveme?”
My mouth fumbles for a response, my eyebrows creasing together.Of course I love you,my mind screams. But the words taste foreign, too terrifying to admit aloud to this pacing man in front of me. One who looks like he might be two seconds from bolting.
“Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?” I ask. Something must have happened, somethingbad, for him to be acting like this.
And it scares me.
“I can’t do this again, Kate. I won’t. Not if you won’t be vulnerable.” He skates a hand beneath his tired eyes before meeting mine again. “Tell me you love me.”
“I–I want to,” I whisper, as if it might be enough.
“Then why can’t you say it?”
My emotions are a tumbleweed, stirring up dust and confusion, and I’m still aching from saying goodbye to my parents.
