Her phone rings again and she groans, finally picking it up. “It’s my sister. I guess I should take this.”
“Go ahead, I’ll pay for this.” I really owe Lisa one. If she hadn’t kept calling, Junie would’ve had a million more questions and my shoddy reasoning would’ve fallen apart. I can’t let her know I’m doing it for her—she’d never allow it. If it’s meant to be, she’ll come back to Gili Telu. She’ll come back to me. I have to believe that. But I also have to give her the chance to decide for herself.
I watch her through the window as I wait for the check. The phone is pressed to her ear and she looks upset. Watching her through the glass is a perfect metaphor for how removed I feel from her life here, even when I’m sitting right next to her.
This is the right thing to do. I just know it is.
The next morning, my things are packed and Junie drives me to the airport with tears in her eyes.
“You’ll call me when you land?”
“Of course.”
“And again when you get to the island?”
“Every day,” I say, taking her in my arms. With her face buried in my chest, she lets a sob escape. I kiss the top of her head, then drop down and kiss her cheeks, salty with tears. Then her lips.
“Take it easy, sweetheart. You know where to find me.”
“I know,” she hiccups, wiping her face. “It just feels so far.” She takes a deep breath and looks up into my eyes, forcing a smile. “We’ve been together every day for over a month.”
“It’ll be over before you know it.” I crush her into my arms again. Either the wait would be over and we’d be with each other again—or she’ll decide to stay, and it will hurt us both like crazy, butshe’d get over it eventually. She’s so smart, and so driven, she can accomplish anything she dreams. I’ve been a real sucker to think those dreams had to revolve around me.
I’m a big fish in a small pond. She is the entire sea.
I have 30 hours of flights to regret my decision before I see the sun again and sink my toes into the sand of the island I call home.
It’s the emptiest I’ve ever felt.
Chapter 29
Junie
Leaving Steven at the airport is the last thing in the world I want to do, but I feel torn in two completely different directions.
When I finally answered the phone during breakfast yesterday, my sister was a wreck. It scared me. I’ve never heard her sound so desperate and alone. Even though I feel exhausted and hollowed out about letting Steven go without me, I know our time will come. This is a chance for me to finally be there for my baby sister. For some reason, she has finally let down her walls and opened up tome. There’s no question that I have to step up for her.
I dry my eyes in the car and drive to the coffee shop like I didn’t just let my heart take off on the runway. This is the farthest I’ve been from him since we met, and it feels like losing a piece of myself. It’s salt in the wound that it was one of my posts that ultimately called him away from me. He tried to celebrate my success in finding a huge donor for the sanctuary last night, but neither of our hearts were in it. Coffee is a must.
“You actually came.” Lisa’s eyes are big, round, and soft. Unlike I’ve seen them since we were just girls, as she settles Luna into the seat beside her.
“Of course I did. You needed me. Tell me what’s going on. Where’s Ryan?”
She scoffs, blowing air between her dark red lips and making the baby laugh and clap her hands. “He’s working. First tell me what’s going on with you. Are you really cheating on David?”
Her words are sharp, but the barb doesn’t land. She always lashes out when she’s scared. I narrow my eyes at her.
“We aren’t together. Turns out he’s kind of an idiot.”
That startles a laugh from her. She runs a hand over Luna’s head, smoothing her hair away from her face, but the motion seems to soothe her more than the baby. “Took you long enough to realize that.”
“You’ve never liked him. Why do you keep bringing him up? And what does that have to do with you being here?”
I can see her chewing on her cheek and I resist the urge to break the silence. We may not be best friends, but I love my sister and if she wants my help, she only has to ask.
“I’m sorry for telling everyone you were still together. I went to Grannie’s house looking for you, and he was there. I guess I shouldn’t have believed him. I was just pissed.” Her posture softens as her shoulders slump forward. Some of the fight seems to leave her. “It’s not really fair that she gave it to you.”
We’ve had that argument a few times already so I know it’s not what she’s really upset about. The last thing Lisa ever wanted was to be stuck in Eastern Pines with the rest of us. Grannie left her some money but put the majority of it in a trust for Luna, and I have no control over that.
