He’s never said that before. Never even hinted at it. The wordlovehangs between us, heavy and unreal, and my mind stutters, unable to form a response.
Before I can speak, he reaches for me. His arm circles my waist and pulls me in.
And just like that, I’m lost again.
I forget Judy. Forget everything except the way his mouth feels against mine, the way my body responds despite every reason screaming inside my head to stop.
From somewhere down the beach, I hear children laughing, enjoying their bonfire.
I let myself sink into him. This will be the last time, the final mistake. The ending of us.
I don’t know how long we’re like that before I hear it.
A shuffle.
We break apart instantly and turn toward the sound. The bushes beside the bar rustle, the branches shifting.
Then she steps into the moonlight.
Sadie.
Her dark hair catches the silver glow, just like mine at this time of night. Her hands are covering her mouth and her eyes are wide and horrified, fixed on us.
She must have followed me. Earlier, as we walked toward the bonfire, she said she wanted to talk to me later. When she saw me leave, she probably thought we could finally be alone.
She saw everything Gabriel and I just did.
Then as we try to figure out what to say to her, she turns and runs in the direction of the camp but close to the water’s edge.
“Sadie!” Gabriel shouts, already chasing after her. “Sadie, wait! This isn’t—. Baby, I can explain!”
I stand there, rooted to the sand, my heart racing so fast it feels like it might tear out of my chest.
Explain what? Actions will trump any number of words he could ever say.
I already know what will happen next. As soon as she leaves the camp, Sadie will go straight to her mother. Judy will hear the truth from her own daughter’s mouth.
And I will lose everything I have left. I will lose my friend, but most importantly, I will lose the child I love like a daughter.
I wrap my arms around myself, shaking, and then I run back toward the camp, not the bonfire. I run until I’m behind the closed doors of my room. I need to think, to plan what I’ll say to Sadie and Judy.
I don’t stay in my room long though. Feeling too restless and terrified, I head back to the beach, the same spot Gabriel left me, where our secret was exposed. I pace and wait for him. I’m torn between running after them and knowing it’s already too late.
In the end, I sink down into the sand. Then I cry openly, rocking like a little girl, grateful that no one is here to see.
Minutes pass. Then more. But Gabriel doesn’t return.
When I finally check my watch, almost an hour has gone by and I didn’t even notice. Gabriel is still not back.
Panicking, I call him, but no answer. I text him next and wait ten minutes for a response that doesn’t come.
Eventually, I drag myself back to my room.
An hour later, there’s a knock and when I open the door, Ivy, a counselor, stands in the doorway, pale and sweating.
“I was looking for you,” she says, but doesn’t wait for a response. “Sadie, she’s nowhere to be found. One of the kids thinks she saw her running toward the water.”
Suddenly, everything shifts and fear rushes through me.
