Finally, we come to the most extravagant part. The arch above us is covered in purple flowers. The air smells sweet. Ahead of us, couples are taking adorable shots with it as the backdrop.
I watch, an uncomfortable feeling settling in my chest at the sight. At first, I think it’s because I know I won’t have those sorts of moments anymore, not after I dumped Rob.
But it’s something else. Something I can’t name.
Instead, I walk toward it. “Mom would love this,” I say. I turn my phone on me, eager to get one photo of myself. The purple flower glasses look cute when I have them on, but my hair is a mess from the wind of the island, baby hairs going everywhere. I’m tempted to tamp them down, but a hand appears behind me, forming rabbit ears.
I still snap the photo before rolling my eyes.
“If you’re gonna photobomb, then at least beinthe photo.”
“Hey, I only go where I’m invit—” He’s cut off when I grab him by the collar of his light blue shirt and yank him into the frame.
“Consider this your invitation. Smile!” He laughs right when I take the photo. His face is full of fondness, an expression I’ve missed. “There we go. One of us both. She’ll leave me alone now.”
“Us,” he reminds. “The last thing we want is for her to ask if we fought.”
He shakes his head and walks off. I follow, but bring the photo up on my phone.
Ilovethe smile he has here. It’s wide, and I can see the goofy expression he always shares with me. It’s something I don’t see with anyone else.
“Berry?” he calls back. “You coming?”
“Y-yeah, sorry.” I jog to catch up, locking my phone.
“What’s got you so distracted?”
You,I want to say.I keep thinking about you.
But that’s not what friends say.
Instead, I only shrug and ask if we have a car to get back to port.
There’sa line to get on the boat back to the cruise ship.
“Here we go again,” I mutter.
“Feeling nervous?” Nate asks.
“Oh, you know me. Ilovestanding over water while waiting in line to get on a tiny boat. My favorite.”
Nate’s eyes go to my hand, but he doesn’t reach out for it. “Let me know if you need me.”
I hope not to need him.
But I probably will.
People pack in together way too tightly. I can tell most of them are eager to be back on the boat, and some have no issues cutting in line. A few times I get shoved, but I’m determined not to reach for Nate’s hand, even as a few people get in between us. I should call out for him, but he seems to hate being close to me so much that I don’t want to make him miserable.
I’m probably safe in the sea of people, and I can’t see the water as well since I’m short. I keep my eyes on the transporting boat, determined to make it through this.
And that’s when it all goes wrong.
“Hang on!” someone calls just before the crowd lurches. “I gotta catch up to my wife! She’s way ahead of me!”
Someone pushes my back and I lose my footing. I fall right in between two people who are at the edge of the dock. We’re nearthe boat, just where the water gets deeper. There’s nothing there to catch my feet as I tumble, feeling like I’m in free fall for all of a second.
And then there’s watereverywhere.
