“And?” I asked, almost scared to hear the answer.
“She wouldn’t see me. Told the bodyguard to tell me that she had no idea who I was.”
I wrapped my arm around my friend, and he rested his head on my shoulder. “Can I really leave the country, Jax? Walk away from my life for something so unknown and build something I love?”
“Yes,” I replied without pausing.
He lifted his head, leaning away from me slightly, so I dropped my arm. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean anything… God, I feel like everything I say is having a dig at you. I’m not, I promise. I just really needed some advice from a friend.”
I smiled. “I know, and for what it’s worth, you can build a life somewhere new. It will be hard and feel strange for a while, but you can do it. And you get to do something you love while you’re there.”
“That’s true, but Mum… the boys.”
“Are grown adults. They’ll be fine.”
Jasper turned his attention to the waves again, seemingly drawn to them just like his mum was. “And her? Halle… Astrid? Whoever she was to me.”
“Mate, she made her choice. She walked away. She’s not been in touch and she pretended she didn’t know you. You deserve so much more. One day she’ll realise what a mistake she made giving you up and by then, you will be hooked up with someone who adores you.”
“I think I love her.”
“But she’s not right for you. Not if she walked away. Look, staying here would be easier than taking the job. You have a life you love that is familiar, but this is a whole new adventure.”
“I don’t love it. My life, I mean. I don’t love it. I feel like I’ve been stuck for so long. It’s like fucking Groundhog Day and I think that’s why I loved meeting Halle so much. She shook things up and gave me a whole new path to walk.”
“I believe things in life happen to teach us things. Even when they are shitty and painful. She was obviously meant to show you that there were different paths out there for you to take. You want to live the same day over and over or do you want to go research sea stuff I don’t understand and trample a whole new path?”
Jasper stood, holding out his hand to help me up. “Sorry, I’ve kept you way longer than you said you could do. You must be knackered.”
I nudged him as we started walking back the way we’d come. “I’ll live. So, you're moving to Ecuador?”
He let out a sigh as if he were coming to a decision. “Looks like I am. I’m going to call them when I get back home and then I have to be there in three months.” He turned, walking backward, looking more animated than I’d seen him since I moved back to town. “Shit, I’m moving to Ecuador. For five years.” His brows furrowed. “But you just came back.”
“Jas, I came back because I hated that I was ripped away from a life I loved and friendships I’ve missed all these years. I wanted to reconnect with you and the fact you called me to talk this through shows me that we’ve reconnected. We can be friends no matter where you live. We can do that, right?”
He stopped, flinging his arms around me. “We can do that. I’m not losing you again, Jax. And if you ever want to talk about why you left, you know I’m here to listen.” Then he let go of me. “Can you not mention the job stuff to Mum just yet?”
“Of course.”
“Right, last one back buys lunch.”
Helen
“So, we’re going for a wax. Why?” Lizzy asked suspiciously.
I shrugged as we walked through the high street towards the beauty salon.
“I mean, if you’re making me have this glow up, I should probably have one, right?”
“Only if you want one. We don’t want you to change, Helen. We just wanted you to realise you were selling yourself short.”
“Well, if I’m going to date and possibly meet someone, then I need some downstairs maintenance.”
Lizzy laughed. “And why am I here?”
“You calm me and the last time I had a wax, it hurt like hell.”
“You don’t need to worry. I’ve booked you into the perfect place. Come on.” She pushed open the door, and we stepped inside the small shop to be met by a smiling woman about my age.
