“I like that,” Simon said thoughtfully. “Though it might not be the worst thing if we let it slip that Allie is seeking treatment. We could change the press release, just say that the stress got to her. Poor thing,” Simon said, gesturing his hand toward me flippantly. The man actually turned around so his back was to me like I wasn’t a part of this conversation. “It would be understandable.”
“Absolutely,” my mother continued. “Everyone knows the stress of planning a Page 6 wedding is enough to knock even the most put together bride off her feet. Not to mention the fact that Allie is a doctor. It makes sense that it was too much to handle.”
“I’m fine,” I said from behind them. “I just didn’t want to get married.”
All three heads swiveled to face me.
“That’s ridiculous,” my mother said. “You’ve been with Simon for three years. Of course you wanted to get married.”
“I don’t want to get married anymore,” I said, since arguing with her was pointless. “In fact, I don’t want to be here. I’m going for a walk.”
“You can’t go for a walk,” my mother said. “You just got here.”
“You guys don’t seem like you want to talk to me,” I said. “You don’t seem to care that I’ve been gone for how long, several days?”
They all continued staring at me.
“Surely, you were just having cold feet. Needed to find yourself?” Simon suggested. “Judging by the looks of you, maybe Martha’s Vineyard, or somewhere near the ocean?” He winced as he looked at my hair, like he could see the salt on it.
“Actually, I went to a magical island,” I said dryly. “It’s very beautiful there.”
“Uh huh,” Simon said over my head to my father. The look they exchanged made it clear they were pretty sure I’d spent the last several days on a cocaine bender. He probably would’ve been relieved if Ihad. “It happens to the best of us, sweetheart.”
“You really think I want to marry you?Still?” I asked in awe. “I ran away from the altar.”
“Cold feet,” Simon repeated.
I realized my ex-fiancé had done this a lot over the years. If I disagreed with Simon, he had this habit of just repeating what he wanted me to believe until finally it wore me down and I went along with it. He’d written our whole narrative because I hadn’t cared enough to fight for my opinion.
Well, I cared now. Just not enough to prove anything to them. I only cared about getting back to The Isle, back to myself. My real self.
“You’re right,” I said finally, deciding to appease them to make my twelve hours here marginally less miserable. “It was cold feet.”
Simon looked relieved, like I was finally back on track and following the script.
“Maybe I’ll go for a walk and get some fresh air,” I said. “Clear my head, then we can get that press release rolling.”
A part of me thought that maybe Silas would sense my distress if I got out of this place. Maybe if I steppedin front of a bus—not actually to get hurt, just to send an alarm to Silas—he’d swoop in early and save me from this disaster.
I’d jump out of the way of the bus, of course, at the very last minute. A brush with death seemed mildly less terrifying than spending twelve hours with Simon.
“No,” Simon said. “You won’t. You can’t go outside now. What if you’re seen?”
My mouth actually fell open. “What’s wrong with that?”
“We haven’t put out a statement. We haven’t told my friends and family you’re back. You can’t justreturn. We need to position it appropriately.”
“For Pete’s sake,” I blurted. “I’m so glad I didn’t marry you.”
Then I turned and stormed upstairs to my childhood bedroom. My parents had turned it into an office the day I moved out, but there was still a couch. I laid on it and stared at the ceiling. So much for going with the flow.
I closed my eyes and wished. Really, really hard. For Silas. For magic. For the island.
I opened my eyes. Nothing, still here.
I heard the doorknob turn, but I’d locked it on my way in.
“Let me in,” Simon demanded, his voice deceptively soft, like I shoulddefinitelytrust him this time. “Open up, Allie. We’ll figure this out.”
