I was staring at the ceiling, unable to decide whether to wait the full two minutes or return to reality earlier and avoid prolonging the inevitable. My sweet girl was nowhere to be found. Not in this room or the bathroom.
I’d caught some serious feelings for Hazel, and yeah, it freaked me out. I was right after all—itdidmess me up. It only made it clearer how much it would hurt once this ended. Because it always ends. Okay, not always. Alex and Ava made it work. And Norah, Logan, Summer, Ethan... But they were the exception, not the rule. My parents showed me the rule. They still made an effort to show it.
After thirty long minutes in the scolding hot shower, I wasn’t any more relaxed. Instead, I was now a steamed vegetable with anxiety, spiraling over basic human emotions and wanting to both leave and stay in this stupid country.
I went to the living room, hoping—foolishly—that Hazel might be there. Instead, I found all my clothes neatly folded and packed. Yesterday, when Hazel confronted me, I was in the middle of doing that.
That damn woman.
However, Hazel’s yellow suitcase was still there by the door. It seemed silly now, but I knew she had left it for me. With our bags in hand, I headed downstairs, where Ava and Summer had already prepared breakfast for everyone. Ethan and Alex werepacking up the car. Only Norah and Logan seemed to take longer than expected. I scanned the room, but Hazel wasn’t here.
“Hi, buddy,” Ava said with soft eyes, handing me coffee. I yawned and muttered a half-hearted thank you. I wasn’t ready for a morning conversation, so I downed the coffee and grabbed our stuff. Outside, a soft breeze brushed my face.
“Work?” I asked Ethan, who was scrolling his phone. Right next to him on the couch, Alex was snoozing in his sunglasses.
“Yes, the team’s losing it. You haven’t checked?” he said, surprised.
“Wanted to enjoy my last day a bit longer,” I mumbled, scratching the back of my head. Another cup of coffee somehow appeared in my hand.
“That doesn’t sound like you,” Ethan noted, eyes still on his phone.
“Yeah, well. People change.”
My words trailed off as Hazel walked through the gate. She had her linen jumpsuit on again, perfectly hugging her hips, shoes in her hand, and her beautiful blond locks in a bun.
“Hey. Where are you coming from?” Norah stepped outside.
“I wanted to see the ocean one more time. Dip my toes in the water.” She shifted from one foot to another, looking down, breeze tugging at her clothes.
I would have gone with you.
“FOOD’S READY,” someone yelled from the kitchen, and the girls went inside. Right before Hazel stepped into the house, we locked eyes, and the side of her lips curled up slightly.
“Luke,” Ethan pulled me back. I shot my eyes back to him. He was watching me, concerned.
“Listen, man, I’m sorry for—”
“I know,” I said. “Water under the bridge.” He patted my shoulder, and we clinked our mugs.
An hour later, we were all packed and ready to go. Hazel was all sunshine and sparkles during breakfast. Her usual bright, happy self.Toohappy. It almost made no sense. Maybe shewashappy it ended. Thatweended.
But her laughter came too quickly, her stories too rehearsed, her smile just a little too wide. Maybe it was her survival technique. Maybe I needed one, too. But the problem was I couldn’t follow her lead. I didn’t know how anymore. Not after last night.
She glanced at me a few times while talking, but there were no lingering glances, no stolen looks, no hesitation. I watched and watched and watched her, but there was nothing. Nothing to show we’d ever happened. It bothered me. She bothered me.
“So, are we ready to go?” Norah asked, guiding everyone out.
“Oh! I think I left my sunglasses in the room,” Hazel suddenly said. “You go, I’ll be out in a minute.” She ran up the stairs.
Everyone headed to the car, but I hesitated, one foot outside the door. And before I could think, I was running up after her. When I got to the room, she was on her knees in the bedroom, checking under the bed.
“You okay?” I asked, confused. Her head whipped up, bun unraveling.
“Yeah, found it.”
She ran her hands through her hair, letting her lion’s mane fall loose again. I loved her hair. Like a scented cloud was around her. She stepped closer, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. It was the look I’d been searching for all morning.
I exhaled and leaned back against the wall—thatwall. The one against which yesterday we did unspeakable things. My hands stayed buried in my pockets, the only thing keeping me from reaching for her. Hazel glanced at her hands, then up at me.
