Page 56 of Endless Love

“Life passes by quickly, so don’t waste it.”

I processed her words. I was almost thirty-five and still floundering in a sea of grief.

“Willow…she’s good for you. I really like her.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“What should I do? I fucked up big time.”

“You’re gonna do what I tell you to do.”

My bossy Allee.

“Find her. Tell her you’re sorry. And tell her the truth.”

“Then what?”

A smile glowed on Allee’s angelic face. How I wished I could still feel her lips…touch her skin… smooth her hair…

“I’m not giving up on you. Go on your journey to happiness, Madewell. I’ll be waiting for you at the end.”

And with that, she magically disappeared.

Hoping Willow would be there, I returned to the crowded bar. My eyes darted in all directions in search of her. My heart sank to my stomach. She was still nowhere to be found. I, however, spotted Duffy, now dressed in casual jeans. I ran up to him.

“Duff, have you seen Willow?” Despair laced my voice.

“Hey, man, where’d you disappear to?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I stammered, grateful that he seemed too plastered to be pissed at me. “Willow…is she here?”

He took a chug of his beer. “To be honest, dude, I haven’t seen her for a while.”

“Hi, Ryan,” came a familiar voice from behind me. I spun around. Duffy’s beautiful bride, or should I say wife, strolled up to us. Like Duff, she was wearing jeans along with a tank top that showcased her baby bump.

“Sam, have you seen Willow?”

“Actually, I just saw her heading back to the beach. Is everything okay?”

Without responding, I flew out of the bar.

Confession. In my fucked-up state, panic gripped me by the balls as I hurried back to the beach. It crossed my mind that Willow might have done something crazy. Like drowned herself. And disappeared from my life forever. Thanking fucking God, my irrational thoughts were short-lived. Spotting her right away, they evaporated from my mind.

The sole person on the beach, she was by the shoreline, dancing in her bare feet. Leaping into the air and twirling, her slender arms fluttering like the butterfly she was, her rapid intricate steps making little splashes in the water, her sexy chiffon dress, blowing in the ocean breeze like a sail. I stopped dead in my tracks. I was mesmerized; in awe. I’d never seen her dance before. She was the epitome of grace, her moves precise and fluid, as if she were center stage and the whole world was watching her. The beam of the moon was her spotlight and the twinkling stars her stage lights. She shimmered beneath them. A sight to behold. Spectacular.

She had no clue I was here watching her. My gaze followed her as she sprinted ankle-deep into the ocean, held out her dress, and curtsied.

I clapped loudly and shouted bravo.

Startled, Willow whirled around. “Ryan, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to apologize.” I ambled toward her. “I shouldn’t have left you like that.”

“Where did you go?” Her tone was cold.

“I went for a long run.”

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