“I’m gonna?—”
“Trip—” Luke begins at the same time.
“Sorry. Go ahead, what were you going to say?”
Luke’s brow pinches, his mouth opening slightly as if he’s about to say something, but he catches himself before shutting it with a definitive shake of his head. “Never mind,” he says, forcing a small smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Okay. I’m going to head to bed.” I step away from him, but his hand finds mine, pulling me in for one more kiss. I don’t resist him. Don’t think I ever could.
“Don’t be a stranger,” he mumbles against my lips.
I don’t know when I’ll get another vacation, so I choose not to answer. Neither of us benefits from false promises.
“Thanks for a great week, Romeo.” I pull away, putting distance between us. He stands there, like he did on the first night Viv and I were here, watching me as I walk to the front door.
“Have a safe drive home.”
“Bye, Luke.”
I don’t look back.
Closing the front door quietly behind me, I scoop Sunny from the cat bed behind the check-in desk and make my way to my room. I hold him tight. His deep purring is a calming, steady presence amid the chaos in my mind.
Back in my room, I pack the last of my things. I try to convince myself I have no issues walking away from Luke and the peace I found here in Maple Cove.This was just a fun break from reality. So why can I see myself here? See myself with Luke?
A heaviness settles in my bones, weighing me down. I flop onto the bed, staring at the linen-white door, and press the heels of my hands into my eyes.
Pushing out a deep breath, I drop my hands and stand, slamming the suitcase shut.I can’t leave Pop. I will not abandon my family. Those are footsteps I’m not willing to follow.
Forty-Eight
MAKE A WISH
Liv
Cups of coffee, and two croissants in hand, we drop our keys at Holly’s desk. Sunny howls from his carrier, clawing at the fabric, trying to escape.
“Keep in touch about the social media stuff, okay?” I say to her as she kneels down on the floor and makes kissing sounds at Sunny.
“I absolutely will. Thank you both so much for everything.”
Sunny rubs his head against the edge of the carrier. Holly slips her finger into the top and scratches his ear.
“You all run a beautiful house.” Viv smiles, and Holly wraps her arms around her in a warm hug, coming for me next.
“Drive safely.”
We wave goodbye and wheel our bags plus Sunny out onto the front step.
“I’ll grab the car and bring it over.” Viv takes off to get the car, and I’m left standing there, eyes wandering around the grounds, taking mental pictures of everything.
I woke up early enough to watch the sunrise from the patio outside my room and marveled once more at how, when thispiece of the world wakes up, it feels so unbelievably different from the city. I allowed myself, for a moment, to recognize that I’ll miss this. The peace, the lake, the people.
Luke.
As casually as I can, I look around wondering if he’ll come say goodbye one more time, but I think I know better. It would be suspicious if he did, and I’m not sure it would be so great for my heart either.
Pop’s Subaru Forester pulls up, Viv puts it in park, and punches the button for the trunk. We haul our bags into the back, place Sunny on the back seat, and assume our spots in the two front seats. Viv in the driver’s seat, driving the first leg of the trip, with me riding passenger princess.
