‘Nathan told me you’re moving back to the UK,’ he says.
I nod. ‘The day after tomorrow. Rachel has asked me to do a wedding with her.’
His face lights up. ‘So you’re finally going back to wedding photography?’
‘At long last.’
‘Yeah, at long last,’ he agrees reflectively. ‘And Alex? Are things still happening there?’
I nod, managing a small smile. ‘Yeah. We’re good.’
‘I’m happy for you,’ he says after a moment.
‘How’s Fliss?’ I ask.
‘Good.’ He smiles, too, now.
‘I’m happy for you, too,’ I say, and I mean it. I’m not sad, but emotion pricks at me behind my eyes as the years we spent together tumble away.
‘Do you regret it?’ he asks out of the blue. ‘Choosing me?’
‘No.’ I shake my head, trying to hold back the tears. ‘I loved the time we spent together. Most of it, anyway.’
‘Me too,’ he says, his voice husky. ‘Good luck with everything, Bronnie.’
He steps forward to give me a hug.
‘Argh, you’re all wet,’ I squeal, and he laughs, shaking his wet hair over me.
‘Still so immature,’ I chide, giving his chest a small, affectionate shove.
‘The boy who never grows up,’ he replies with a grin.
‘I’ll let you get back to your waves.’
‘It was good to see you.’ He walks backwards a few steps.
‘You too.’
I watch him jog across the beach and pick up the surfboard he’d jammed upright in the sand, then I turn, the wind whipping tears from my eyes as I walk away. Just before I slip out of view, I cast one last look back at the boy who stole my heart when I most needed him to.
He’s sitting up on his board, watching me, and lifts his hand in a half-wave. I do the same before letting him go.
As is becoming tradition, Alex comes to collect me from the airport. We stand in each other’s arms, holding each other tightly for I don’t know how long as the other arrivals swarm around us and pass by. He rests his head against my forehead.
‘I’ve missed you so much,’ he murmurs.
‘Me too.’
‘I can’t believe you’re here.’
‘For good, hopefully, if I can get that visa sorted out.’
‘I’ve lined up an immigration lawyer,’ he says with a smile, letting me go to take the trolley containing all my luggage.
We go straight back to his place.
‘Are you sure you’re happy with me staying here?’ I ask with slight trepidation as he lugs the last of my suitcases down the stairs. I paid excess to bring what I could, giving away quite a bit before I left. Luckily, Lachie and I only ever rented and the flat was fully furnished, so I don’t have a crazy amount of possessions.
