Page 29 of Tell It To The Waves

“No, me coming here just threw a lot of stuff off. Once I leave, it’ll go all back to how it was,” I say honestly.

“Don’t say that. I don’t want it to go back like it was. I like how it is now. This weekend was the best. I missed you.” And this is why I became friends with Baylee in the first place; she loves and loves hard. How can she just welcome me back? I don’t question it, because I missed my friend.

Forcing myself back up, I say, “I missed you. I don’t regret this weekend, but I do regret last night.”

Smiling at me, “When are you leaving?”

“What time is it now?” I ask her.

She grimaces. “It’s only seven thirty.”

“Baylee!” I cry out her name. “I could still be sleeping.”

“Not me! I was up before the sun rose; I needed to know what the hell happened.” Not one ounce of sorry on her face.

“Well, I’m leaving around ten to head back.”

Her face slowly morphs; her smile vanishes.

We both sit, looking at one another. Breaking the silence, “You can come see me at my apartment. Meet Luna.” I smile.

“Really?”

Giving her anare you seriouslook, “Of course. I’d love to have you.”

Her eyes become watery. “This doesn’t end here, right? I just got you back.”

Closing my eyes, I try to keep the tears at bay, but when I open them, they flood out like a waterfall. “No, never ending, again,” I promise her, and I mean it. And I hate that I’m the reason she’s so unsure. That I’m the reason for the look on her face.

I wouldn’t have blamed Baylee for looking the other way and acting like I didn’t exist, but I’m glad she showed up here that morning. Because I know I wouldn’t have. Not because I didn’t want to, but because of the shame I felt for leaving her right along with him and Driftwood Bay.

She comes to sit on the floor with me, and we both cry while hugging each other.

Leaning back from me, lips pursed, “Are you naked?”

“Yeah.” I draw the word out, not saying anything else.

“Go get dressed. I’ll drive us back to town and we can get breakfast before you head out.” She maneuvers herself back onto the sofa.

“Yes, ma’am.” I tighten the quilt around me, grab my overnight bag, and head to the bathroom.

My lips go down when I see the shower, so wanting to get cleaned, but not able to, I hurry and slip on my blue jeans and a baby blue tank top, my eyes roaming the bathroom, thinking how the next owners could extend it out, add a bathtub, and maybe a French door.

Rolling the quilt up from off the ground, I take my things back to the living room, where Bay sits occupied on her phone.

“Let me brush my teeth, and we can go.”

“Oh God, please do. I could smell your breath and it’s awful.” She hangs her head on the back of the sofa.

I pretend to laugh. “You’re hilarious.”

Securing my toothbrush back in the bag, laying it and the quilt by the front door. I could take them with us, but I know leaving them here will make me come back and say goodbye to August Cove. And I owe it to this place to actually say goodbye, this time.

We drive into town; it doesn’t take long at all, and we wish it would have taken forever. I want to spend as much time with Baylee as I can, not knowing when I’ll see her again. She’s the only good thing that came out of me coming back here. I hate myself for leaving her, too, but I can say I’ll never do it again. I was broken and didn’t think of who I was, all hurting in my own despair. And she didn’t deserve that.

“Earth to August.” Bay taps on my thigh.

We’re parked in front of the Lighthouse Diner. I smile at her because, of course, this is where we would go.