Page 114 of Ghost Note

“Then we’ll make it work somehow. We’ll try the long-distance thing. We’ll stay in touch… see how it goes. No more big decisions that ruin shit. We can take it slowly. You’ll come back here again one day, and when you do…”

He nodded once, his sad, disappointed eyes taking me in before he looked out to the ocean. “Okay.”

“Is it?” My hand found his, and I slid it over the top, grazing his knuckles.

“No, it fucking sucks. I’ve spent five years weaning myself off you, and now I’m back to square one withonly myself to blame.” He turned to look at me. “But I’d do it all again if I could. I’d fuck you on your bed with you in my lap. I’d taste you in that limo. I’d screw you on the beach, and I’d come and sleep with you if the sky was falling because these last few days have been some of the best of my life when they should have been my worst, and every moment has been thanks to you, Zee. Every amazing day I’ve ever had is thanks to you.”

“I feel the same about you.” I smiled softly, basking in his affection.

“You really think we can make this work now?”

“I want to try.”

“Me, too.” Danny reached up to cup my cheek. “Just promise me something.”

“What?”

“When we say goodbye this time, don’t cry. I spent the last five years with that image of you running away burned onto the back of my eyelids. This time, I’d like to take your smile with me instead.”

Tears formed quickly, belonging to both sad and happy emotions. “I’ll see what I can do,” I whispered.

“Thank you.”

“Shall we stay here ‘til the sun comes up?”

With a sigh, Danny shuffled me closer and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, leaving us both to look out to the horizon. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

* * *

The sun did come up eventually.

Our final night together passed too quickly, and the threads of some kind of mourning began to weave themselves across my heart. Maybe it was readying itself for the breaks again. I wasn’t sure.Danny and I were swimming in unfamiliar territory, the unknown village girl in love with the famous rock star. It was the kind of love story that could thrive, but struggle to survive in the long run, and that ache settled in the pit of my stomach until we walked to the metal steps to make our way down the ladder one final time.

The orange, pink, and yellow sky around us was beautiful, lighting up the world like a stage, only Danny looked nervous about this performance. An unsure scowl creased his handsome face.

He reached for the railing, only to stop himself and turn back to me.

“I don’t think I can spend the rest of the day building up to saying goodbye to you,” he confessed. His eyes were tired, his body, too, but I had a feeling his heart was exhausted more than anything, just like mine.

“Me either.”

His head dropped, and he spun around to take my hands in his before he looked up, and I saw a sheen of moisture coating his eyes. Nothing, not one single thing on this planet, got to me more than seeing Danny showing raw emotion.

“I think I’m gonna say goodbye here,” he whispered. Bringing a hand up to my face, he ran his thumb over the apple of my cheek, his other hand squeezing my fingers tightly. “I love you, Daisy Piper.”

“I love you, too, Danny.”

“See you on the other side?”

“Definitely,” I breathed.

“No one’s ever going to love you like I do.”

With a parting kiss, Danny closed his eyes and pressed his lips to mine, making sure I felt that goodbye everywhere. When he pulled away, I didn’t open my eyes, but the silent tears fell anyway. I allowed myself to feel him leave.

“Smile for me, Zee,” he whispered. So, I did. I forced a soft smile to my lips, despite the ache in my heart.

Soon, his warmth disappeared from my mouth.

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