Page 63 of Diving In

I took one more fleeting look around the place, and then I bolted for the front door.

As the warmth of the sun splashed against my skin and the aquarium got smaller and smaller behind me, I could finally admit to myself that it wasn’t Finn I came back to the aquarium for.

No, it wasn’t Finn at all.

CHAPTER 24

“The Charleston Airport, please,” I said to the driver, the bulge of anxiety in my stomach growing with every passing moment.

This was real. I was leaving,for good.As much I had hated coming to this island in the first place, there was a part of me that was sad to be leaving. I just couldn’t quite admit to myself why.

I’d learned so much in the past three days, shocked by how many things had been kept hidden from me for all these years. The lies and the secrets. I couldn’t help but wonder how each of these secrets would have played a substantial role in how my life would’ve turned out had I known about them earlier. Would I have ever left this island if I had known about Beau? Would I have come back if I had known Jack was sick? Would Cal and I have crossed paths sooner?

As I tried to conjure up reasons I should go back to New York City and leave this island behind, I was struggling to think of anything better than “because I need to.”

I closed my eyes and focused on the things waiting for me in New York, of which there were really only two: my job and Ivy.

Thinking about getting to see Ivy sent a sense of relief through me. Enough so that I could open my eyes and not feel like the anxiety was going to completely pull me under. I fumbled through my purse until I felt my phone, and then sent her a text.

Me:

Headed to the airport with Ian… Long story. Our flight lands at 8 tonight. Should be back home around 9 or 9:30. Could really use some Ivy time if you’re free. Meet me at my apartment?

Within seconds, a gray bubble popped up on my screen.

Ivy:

I’ll be there.

The beauty of having a best friend was that she was always there, no questions asked. When the world around me felt like it was caving in, Ivy assured me it wasn’t. And right now, with everything seeming unstable and uncomfortable, I needed her.

I gazed out the window for the rest of the drive. The moment we crossed over the bridge exiting the island, I instantly felt different. It was a little easier to watch as buildings passed by the window, having no emotional connection to any of them. I tried to focus on something, anything really, that would keep my mind from wandering aimlessly. Thankfully, Ian’s phone call lasted the entire drive, so I didn’t have to try and find the energy to keep a conversation going with him.

“What airline?” the driver asked, approaching the departures lane.

“Southwest.”

As soon as we pulled up, Ian hung up the phone. “Perfect timing!” he declared.

I smiled before collecting my stuff and getting out of the car. The driver already had our suitcases waiting for us up on the curb.

“Thanks so much!” I offered.

“Thanks,” Ian mimicked.

We made our way into the airport and walked straight up to security. With no line, we were done in a matter of minutes.

“Perks of flying on the Fourth of July,” I told him, and I saw the moment the light bulb went off for him.

“Holy shit, G… I’m so sorry! Happy birthday!” he beamed.

“Yeah, thanks,” I sarcastically responded.

“Fuck. I’m the worst. I feel terrible. Let me make it up to you when we get back to New York?”

“Ian, let’s not go there right now,” I said, my voice rigid.

To be honest, the last fucking thing I wanted to do was celebrate my birthday. All I wanted to do was get home, put on my comfiest clothes, and lay around. I’d never been a big birthday girl, but especially with everything going on, I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate anything.

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