Riley was watching me get dressed for the end-of-the-season party at The Heights. Given that she knew nothing about Elliott being the father of my baby, it was no surprise that she was utterly confused about why I had to leave.
“This has been a wild summer. I’ll never forget it,” she said.
“Neither will I.”
“Do you think you’ll come back next summer?”
Was she serious?
“With the baby? No. My life as I know it is pretty much over, Riley. No more summer shares for about eighteen years.”
She blew out a breath. “It’s just hard to believe that things won’t ever be the same again.”
Her words hit me hard. In her mind, I was certain she was referring to no more “fun in the sun.” For me, they meant so much more. Whether or not Rush ever came around, things would never be the same for us. Either he would be gone from my life, or we would have to adjust to a whole new set of challenges. I just wished he loved me enough to want to fight for the latter, even if it was painful. But I didn’t get to choose how this was going to play out.
“What do you plan on doing when you get to the City?” she asked.
“Well, I have to find a job. That’s number one. And I have to finish my book. That’s number two. Hopefully, once I’m there, I’ll be able to focus more on the writing.”
“I can’t wait to read this book when it’s done. I don’t even read romance, but I’ll read this one.” Her eyes widened. “Hey…you should put Rush on the cover. Bet that would sell.”
For some reason, that rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe that’s just because I was extra sensitive, but I really didn’t want to hear another woman pointing out how attractive my likely soon-to-be ex was.
“I can’t really see him posing. He’s not really the Fabio type.”
“Well, that’s definitely true.” She laughed.
Riley went downstairs, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I’d picked the prettiest maternity dress I owned to wear to the party tonight. It was black and gold with a sequined neckline. It was cut in a way that hid my ever-protruding stomach.
I was absolutely dreading having to say goodbye to Rush soon. The quicker the exit, the better. No long goodbyes for me. I just couldn’t handle it.
Everything was packed away except for the last few items that I kept in my room because I needed the strength they gave me.
I grabbed them one by one as I prepared to take them with me.
Melody’s sunset painting. While it made me sad, it also gave me hope and helped remind me that this summer was a magical journey, despite the painful parts. The sun always sets and rises, no matter what. Tomorrow is always a new day. This painting would continue to give me hope for years to come.
The black-haired doll that Rush bought me from the thrift store. While I had packed all of my other ugly dolls away, I just hadn’t been able to part with that one yet. It was a reminder of just how much Rush really “got me” and how even in the worst of times, he always knew how to make me smile.
Rush’s black shirt—the one I wore as a dress to Elliott’s party, the night I discovered he was Harlan. That shirt was my reality check. It reminded me not to let my guard down whenever I would start to believe that love trumped all. It was a protective mechanism, one I wouldn’t be returning to its rightful owner, especially since after all this time, it still smelled like him.
I started to break down as I packed the shirt away. Elliott still didn’t know about the baby. I could only imagine how terrible telling him was going to be. My biggest fear was that he would try to capitalize on it in some way, namely hurting me to get to Rush.The hyped-up end-of-the-season party definitely lived up to its reputation.
Rush had gone all out tonight. There were huge lanterns set up outside. A local cover band that was really hard to get was playing on the rooftop. He’d booked them a year in advance for this event. The weather was absolutely gorgeous with a light breeze and perfect for the outdoor bar.
We were full to capacity. I sort of floated through the party, refusing to actually think about what this night meant. I couldn’t allow myself to dwell on it long enough to cry.
The evening was just passing on by, but I really wished it would slow down. Rush was nowhere to be found. I couldn’t tell if he was just tending to things or hiding from me. But I definitely felt his absence tonight, not only on the floor but in my heart.