Page 137 of Forget Me Not

I can’t imagine going through life alone. Losing Jack probably would have killed me if it weren’t for my mother and father. Together they were my rock.

They always have been.

So he won’t see the tear leak out of the corner of my eye, I lay my head on his shoulder, letting him wrap me into him and slowly spin me around the floor.

Gently, as if he’s unsure, he presses a kiss to my temple.

And he doesn’t say another word.

“I feel like my honeymoon will just be me sleeping,” Tara complains as she pulls on her airport dress, as she calls it.

“Don’t worry, once you get to the island, all you’ll think about is how much you want to get railed,” Katelyn chimes from the other side of the room while I work to zip Tara into her dress.

“God, I don’t know if I could handle that right now. I feel like I’ve been carrying around a toddler on my back all day.”

“Better rest up on the plane ride,” Manto chimes from the doorway, joining us. “Got big plans when we get there.”

Tara’s eyes widen, Katelyn laughs, and I cringe because I don’t ever want to think about my best friend nailing another one of my best friends.

“Are you almost ready? We’ve got a plane to catch.”

“Yes,” she groans, rushing away from me to find her bag. “We’re just finishing packing up my stuff.”

“I’ll be right outside. Let me know when you’re ready and Reid and I can take the bags down.”

He steps out and beyond the door, I see Reid. He nods to me before stepping around the corner with Manto and out of sight.

“Reid,” Manto says, outside in the hallway while I finish cleaning up the makeup on the vanity. “Thanks for coming today.”

I busy myself with brushing Tara’s hair, no easy feat from the can of hairspray holding it together to combat the ocean winds and listen.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Reid chuckles.

The other girls rush around us, helping to get bags ready and get everything together so it can be loaded into the car, but it’s hard to hear what Reid and Manto are saying over the commotion. Still, I catch something I don’t think I was meant to hear that stops me in my tracks.

“Can’t wait to get out of here,” Reid says and just like that, the burn inside me is snuffed out like a candle falling into the ocean.

My hands feel slick, clammy with perspiration and a slight tremor moves through me.

Can’t wait to get out of here.

I’m an idiot.

I knew I was in too deep. I knew I would be holding on at the end of this.

I’m not cut out for casual dating. I’m not cut out for dating at all, it seems.

Or perhaps, I’m not cut out for Reid. The man that’s not in this for the long haul. The man who will leave in less than forty-eight hours. He’s got his whole life planned out. Unfortunately, I don’t fit into that plan.

Swallowing my pride and forcing the moisture that gathers in the corners of my eyes to hold off, just for a few minutes longer, I help Tara finish getting ready to leave. I do my duties because I made a promise to her and I’ll be damned if I fail her. This is her day.

I refuse to ruin it. Even if I feel like I’m going to vomit.

So, I plaster a fake smile on my face and walk her to the car, hugging her and telling her how proud of her I am, before moving to Manto and doing the same thing.

“You better take care of her,” I warn and he just chuckles.

“Always.”

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