Surprisingly, I don't miss him. Don't miss the pressure or expectations or constant disappointment. What I miss is the father I wish I'd had. But that's a different grief.
Isla spots me watching and rolls her eyes. But she's smiling when she crosses the room and slides into my arms.
"Having fun?" I ask.
"Actually, yes. Your friends are less terrible than I expected."
"High praise."
"Don't get used to it." She kisses me quickly. "I have news."
"Good news or bad news?"
"Depends on your perspective. I got an internship offer. For this summer. At a publishing house in New York."
My heart sinks and soars at the same time. "New York. That's amazing."
"It's also three months away from you."
"We'll figure it out. Video calls, weekend visits, excessive texting." I pull her closer. "I'm not losing you to geography."
"You're sure? Because it's going to be hard?—"
"Isla. We survived a fake dating contract, my asshole father, and your friends threatening to murder me. We can survive a summer apart."
"When you put it that way..."
"Besides, I might have my own New York plans."
She pulls back to look at me. "What plans?"
"There's a graduate program. Poetry writing. I applied on a whim." I haven't told anyone this. Not even Marcus. "I got in."
"Sebastian! That's incredible!"
"It's also in New York. Starting in the fall."
Her eyes widen. "You're moving to New York?"
"If you are, then yes. If you're not, then I'll figure something else out. But I'd prefer we figure it out together."
"You're moving to New York for me."
"I'm moving to New York for me. Because I want to study poetry. Want to do something I actually care about instead of following the path my father laid out." I cup her face. "But yes, the fact that you'll be there definitely influenced the decision."
She kisses me hard. "I love you."
It's the first time she's said it. The first time either of us has said it.
"Yeah?" I can barely breathe.
"Yeah. I love you, Sebastian Thornhill. Against all odds and better judgment. I love you."
"I love you too. Have loved you since that first day when you called me a heartless asshole."
"I wasn't wrong."
"You weren't right either. I had a heart. It just took you to find it."
