Page 3 of One Last Memory

“Fantastic,” His smile was genuine, but with a hint of worry. “My number is on the fridge for any emergencies, as well as repairs needed. Please enjoy your stay.” His attention didn’t leave mine as he said those words and in some parallel universe, I could believe that they were meant for me.

But alas, they were not.

Because the strange girl didn’t get the island boy. She got the quiet time and the right moment to bury her feelings.

The man slipped towards the front door, brushing past my shoulder, electric sparks shooting through me at his touch. He shot me a lingering, heated look that I really wanted to overthink as I melted under his stare. When he slipped out the door, my heart thumping in my chest erratically, Malia pulled me back to planet earth, “I called dibs. You know that.”

She headed for the room – the one we were sharing with her kids. But I knew how these vacations ended up. Her sons would end up in my bed, wrestling around until I found a comfortable enough spot on the floor or another room to disappear into. I had complained once or twice to Mom and she thought it was entirely hilarious that I didn’t want to give up my space to the sister in need.

Dad, despite being on my side, was a total pushover, and he avoided conflict like the plague like I did. As much as I loved the little rascals – I didn’t – I was not going to spend a week in there with them. Not again. This vacation was about taking steps forward. Even if I refused to speak up, not succumbing to the inevitable said way more than words ever could.

I conceded too much for this family.

That stopped today.

My hand wrapped around the last suitcase in the foyer and I surveyed the open layout, eyes searching for a nook of my own. These houses always had some space hidden away and it would be mine for the week. A place of quiet that I could call my own.

Mom reappeared in the hallway, just outside of her designated room, “Bailee, where are you going? I’m worried-”

I cut her off, eyes falling on the nook. A green room.Of course.“Stop worrying. I’m not that fragile. I’m just going to sleep in the green room.” Surrounded by my own personal little forest? I could see the hints of vines wrapped around the door frame and resisted the urge to squeal.

“The green room? There’s no green room here, sweetie.”

Trust Mom not to have researched the place she was staying at, so I just pointed in the opposite direction of the bedrooms and on the other side of the kitchen. “See?” I took a few steps closer, my shoulders relaxing at the sight that reached my eyes, “A little hammock and a bathroom too.”

“Dear, I’d feel much better if you-”

Dad entered the kitchen next, and it was only a matter of moments before the rest of the family filtered in. He placed a quick kiss on Mom’s cheek, trying his best to speak up for me. “Let her be. If she doesn’t like it, she can still room with Malia. It’s not fair that she usually ends up on a couch or the floor. No one can sleep around those boys anyway.”

Mom gasped in mock horror, “Honey! Those are your grandchildren!” But there was a playful tone to her words. We all knew how out of control Malia’s kids were.

Dad shrugged, “And as my grandchildren, I can say that.” He threw me a small smile and gestured to my new room, “Go get yourself comfortable. We’ll be down at the beach if you need anything.” I bobbed my head up and down a few times as I slipped off to hang with the plants. Dad hadn’t asked me to join them because he knew I didn’t want to. Because he knew I wouldn’t have said yes, had he asked.

Two seconds later, I was curled into my hammock, eyes fluttering close and thoughts of doe eyes and rough hands running around my mind. Malia might have called dibs, but just this once, I might fight her for that right.

BAILEE

Darknessandsilencemetme when I finally reopened my eyes. Which meant that Dad had actually succeeded in pulling everyone to the beach without me.Way to go, Dad. Gold star.

I slipped out of my hammock, slipping into some version of a sundress that was entirely too loose and too short, should anyone come wandering back into the house. But I was on vacation too, something I had a hard time believing. One wrong move and the entire beach would see my ass. It was a good thing no one was here, and I had the entire house to myself.

Unfortunately, that’s when my stomach decided to remind me that while I had avoided my entire family’s festivities, I had also missed out on the only opportunity for food tonight. Sure, Dad promised me a plate later on. But later on could be tomorrow morning for all I knew.

Venturing into the kitchen, my eyes roamed for any sources of food or snacks.Bare. Nothing.I hadn’t even managed to steal an extra packet of peanuts from the plane, which meant I was shit out of luck. I let out a breathy sigh, taking in the massive amount of space as the moonlight lit up the wood adornments along the wall. During the day, the large windows reflecting the light were gorgeous, illuminating the most intricate pieces of this house.

At night, it was just creepy.

Great place to stage a horror movie.

I chuckled at my dry humor as I rumbled around the kitchen. My parents hadn’t stocked it yet, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t something from the last tenant. And yes, I wasthatdesperate to avoid everyone down at the beach. But there was nothing that would fill my empty stomach… except the really,reallyexpensive whiskey that I found in one of the cabinets.

I popped the top and took a whiff, cringing at the potent scent. Bad things happened when I drank. Like breakdowns, freakouts, and bad decisions. But I was starving, and the whiskey would at least warm my insides. I took a swig, relishing the way it burned the back of my throat.Fuck, that’s good.Another swig and I knew for a fact that I was going to regret this.

I whipped out my journal, smiling as I flipped to the next blank page, and then shifted to one of my favorite Pandora stations. Confetti’s song, ‘Rob a Bank’ blasted through my phone speaker and my pen began gliding over the page as I detailed the events of the day, my smile widening as doe eyes flashed through my head.

To whom it doesn’t concern,

These were the moments that I loved. The ones where I was free to be alone. The ones where I was free to beme.

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