Page 90 of Broken Hearts

“I know,” I tell her, believing her even though I hate the idea of her leaving.

What if she gets back to New York and is reminded of the life she has there? Her friends, her mom, school, all of it. I have no idea about any of it and I’m scared that when Sage gets back there, she’ll realize she doesn’t want to spend her life in a small town on Maui with a guy who barely made it through high school.

She smiles now, fumbling with her dad’s bracelet, the one she has never taken off until right now, before she clasps it around my wrist. “I want you to hang on to this for me,” she says, lifting my hand to her lips. “You can give it back to me when I get back in a week, okay?”

I pull her in for another kiss because even though I know Sage is leaving all of the clothes she came over here with behind in her apartment, this bracelet is her most prized and important possession. When she saw it in the photo of her dad, I knew she was both surprised and overwhelmed by the memento Mitch wore that was obviously dedicated to her. When Tanner then gave it to her, I watched the pride and love in her eyes as her mom helped her put it on.

I know she’ll be back for this.

“I’m gonna miss you,” I say, tucking her hair behind her ears.

“Me too,” she whispers, her lips against mine. “Why don’t you use the week apart to put a door on the outdoor shower?” she now teases.

I chuckle because despite my protests that first morning she found me in the shower and all the things we then did in there, we have done them many more times since. It’s risky, and yeah, it’s hot, but I am serious about not sharing her with anyone.

“Maybe I will,” I say, kissing her again.

Sage traces her tongue along my bottom lip, pulling a groan from my chest before she pulls back. “I have to go,” she says. “I love you, and I’ll see you soon.”

“I love you too,” I tell her. “So fucking much.”

Sage smiles, leaning in to give me one last kiss before she turns and walks through security, and I watch until she disappears.

When I get back to the shop, everything feels weird. Sage probably hasn’t even left the island yet, but already I can feel her absence. It feels different to every other loss too, even though I know she’s coming back.

“All good,” Alana says as I head toward the office.

“Yeah.”

She laughs. “So you gonna be grumpy for the whole week?”

“What?”

Alana follows me in, a cold brew in her hand as she smiles at me. “With Sage gone, you gonna be grumpy for the whole week?”

“I’m not grumpy,” I reply, which only makes Alana laugh harder.

“Oh my god, Nate,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Here, I got you this,” she now says, thrusting the drink at me. “Hopefully it takes some of the grump away.”

“Thanks,” I say, taking the coffee as I give her a small smile.

“Why didn’t you just go with her?” Alana now asks.

I shrug, knowing Sage did ask if I wanted to go with her. “Had to look after the shop.”

Alana snorts. “Come on, I know you’re like an owner now, but we could’ve managed a week without you,” she says.

I take a sip of the cold coffee, nodding. “I know.”

“So why didn’t you go?” she asks again, poking my arm.

I blow out a breath, putting my drink on the desk as I lean back against it. “I don’t know,” I eventually say. “I thought about it.”

“And?” Alana prompts, rolling a hand at me, just like she used to do when we were kids and she was trying to drag something out of me. It makes me smile now, even though it used to annoy the shit out of me back then.

“You know, you’re kinda a pain in the ass at times,” I tease.

Alana rolls her eyes again as she says, “Um hello pot, have you met kettle?”

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