Ever since that day I went to him and asked for a tattoo, we’ve been basking in perfect harmony. The only arguments we’ve had were easily resolved with an open-hearted talk, some minor compromises, and makeup sex.
I’ve been true to my promise to him and haven’t spoken to Mother again, even when she tried to reach me a couple of times. Therapy has helped me tremendously since that day in NexaCorp’s café, and although I’m feeling more liberated than I ever have, I still insist on going every two weeks. It took a few tries, but I found my perfect match, and I owe a lot to my therapist. Going no-contact with Vivienne and Gerard has only been beneficial. I don’t miss them, unlike what I thought, and my life has been a lot smoother. It was like cutting off a cancerous limb, and the rest of me is now stronger and healthier.
“I’m so happy we got to take this trip, red,” Jake murmurs.
“Me too. And that we detoured to Japan to see the cherry blossoms. I can’t believe it’s your first time in Australia since you left.”
“I wasn’t ready yet.”
“I know, wombat, and I’m so proud of you for this. Your aunt is such a sweet woman and was so happy to welcome us into her home for a few nights. And your uncle has the best stories about your teenage years.”
“They did the best they could raising me despite having their own three kids. And even if I got out of line a few times, I’d say they’ve done a good job.”
“They did an excellent job. You’re a fantastic person, Jake. And Maggie’s pavlova? Gosh, I thought yours was good, but hers is… Ugh, we need to come back soon.”
“We will.”
“For your birthday in September.”
“Anything you want, sweetheart.”
For some seconds, there’s only the waves and his heart again, and I softly ask, “Are you ready for tomorrow?”
“Yes. I look forward to it.”
“Me too. I need to pay my respects and thank her for creating you. You said her favorite flowers were peonies, right?”
“Yes. She bought a bouquet whenever she could afford one, and the fragrance filled the house for days.”
“We’ll find a flower shop before we head to the cemetery, then. And if you’re okay with it, I’d love it if we could have a bouquet at home now and then—as an homage to her.”
He nods, smiling softly, and I snuggle closer to him. Part of me wishes this trip would last forever, but another is eager to return to New York. I’m in charge of our anniversary date, a week after we get home, and what I’ve planned is stellar.
First, we’ll have drinks at The Plaza Hotel’s bar, to pay tribute to the night we met. Then, I’ve booked the exact room we went up to that night, and I’ll have a little surprise there for him: a tattoo gun, as well as everything he might need to finally ink that six-step ladder I asked for all those months ago. I already know it’ll be amazing, so it’ll make up for having to leave this paradise in favor of the bustling city.
Also, since I finally managed to sell my apartment, I now have the funds to launch my own law firm, which is another thing I’m excited about. Since leaving NexaCorp, I’ve joined a small firm based in Brooklyn that primarily takes on pro bono cases. It’s been great to help out people in need of a good lawyer and get them justice. Instead of serving a big corporation, I now work for the people they abuse. I’ve gone from darkness to light, and my soul feels grander for it.
My life took an unexpected turn the day I drunkenly created that dating app profile, and I still struggle to realize how far I’ve come. The Gen I was a year ago wouldn’t recognize the one I’ve become. And sadly, she’d probably think this new version is the worse one of the two.
“Do you ever think of what would have happened if Eli didn’t find my profile on that app?” I wonder out of the blue.
“I do sometimes, yeah.”
“It makes me so sad that we almost never met. Can you imagine? A tiny difference in the algorithm and none of this would have happened. What a sad life it would have been.”
“No, you’re wrong there.”
My brows come together as I lift myself up to look him in the eye. “What do you mean?”
“We were destined to meet. This, right now, was always going to happen, regardless of whether Eli found you or not.”
“Like destiny? That’s very cheesy,” I say, doubtful.
“The evening at the gallery on Fifth,” he explains with a coy smile.
“What about it?”
“You were going. So was I. We would have met there, with or without Eli.”
