Chapter 44

44

MERRITT

T he office was quieter than usual or maybe it was just my mood. It was subdued with the occasional phone ringing, the tap-tap-tap of someone on their keyboard. My corner of the office was the exception. It was empty now, except for the last of my things spread across the desk: framed photos, a few knickknacks, and a plant that had somehow survived my sporadic care. My boss stood nearby, arms crossed and a wistful expression on his face.

“You really don’t have to do this,” he said, his tone leaning toward a plea. “You could work remotely. We’d make it work. I don’t want to lose you.”

I smiled, placing the plant into a box with care. “You’ve been amazing, Andrew. All of you have. But it’s time for me to go back to the life I was meant to have. I’ve learned so much here. You’ve helped me grow and allowed me to really flourish. You gave me confidence and encouragement. I don’t think I can ever thank you enough for that.”

One of my coworkers sighed dramatically from the doorway. “You’re going to leave us here to rot without you?”

“I’m sure you’ll manage,” I teased. “You’ll probably get more work done without me around to distract you.”

Gina rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because God forbid we have a little fun.”

We shared a laugh before reality crept back in. I turned to face the small group that had gathered. “You’ve all been like family to me. Thank you for the memories, for the support, and for everything in between. I’ll miss you.”

My boss stepped forward, pulling me into a hug that was very out of character for him. “We’ll miss you too, Merritt. But Dallas is lucky to have you back.”

“Send us postcards from your new life,” one coworker said.

I laughed. “I’m really not going to be all that far.”

With one last glance around the office, I grabbed my box and headed for the elevator. As the doors closed with a gentle ding, the depth of my decision fully settled in. I carried my box to my car for the last time. The box of personal items rested on the passenger seat, each object a tiny fragment of the life I was leaving behind. The car was going back to the dealership tomorrow. My life in Miami was officially coming to an end.

When I got home, the chaos was in full swing. Lucia and Dominique were in the living room, surrounded by half-packed boxes. I heard their bickering before I even stepped through the door.

It had been two and a half weeks since Kannon’s accident. Things were moving fast. I felt like there was no time to lose. We had already wasted ten years. I quit my job, was ending the lease on my car early, and gave up my sweet apartment. Miami was not my life. Not anymore.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Dominique snapped, snatching a box flap out of Lucia’s hand. “You have to fold it like this, or it won’t stay closed.”

“Please,” Lucia shot back, glaring. “I’ve been packing longer than you. I know how to close a box.”

“You two are going to kill each other without me,” I said, stepping inside and setting my box down.

They both looked up, feigning innocence.

“We’ll be fine,” Lucia said sweetly before narrowing her eyes at Dominique. “But if blood is spilled, we’re moving to Dallas to be closer to you.”

“Why?” I asked with confusion.

“Because we’ll be on the run from the law.” Lucia shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. “You guys are ridiculous. You would be lost without each other.”

Dominique nodded in agreement. “Make sure you pick a place with at least one guest room.”

“Two,” Lucia said.

“Two?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

Dominique crossed her arms. “I’m not sharing with this bitch.”

Lucia smirked and taped up a box. “They’d rather put me up at their place and you in a hotel, anyway. Right, Merritt?”

I held up my hands, laughing. “I’m staying out of this one.”

“How was the final goodbye at work?” Lucia asked.

I sighed. “Hard, but I can’t wait for the future.”

They were quiet for a second before they jumped right back into their bickering. I grabbed a box and carried it to the kitchen to pack up dishes. I wanted to be out of the line of fire. Not that there was any heat behind their insults. It was just how they passed the time.

As I started wrapping plates in bubble wrap, I overheard snippets of Lucia and Dominique’s ongoing debate about who was responsible for packing the sea glass. It was a trivial matter but their banter somehow made the task at hand less daunting. Every item wrapped and packed was a step closer to Dallas, to my new beginning with Kannon.

The evening wore on and the apartment gradually transformed into a maze of boxes. The walls, stripped of everything, made it all feel so final. Our voices echoed in the empty space.

“Well, I think that’s it,” Lucia said. “Let’s go party.”

This was the last night I would spend in Miami with my best friends and we were planning to go out and make the most of it. It was a celebration instead of a goodbye. We got dressed, did our makeup, and headed out for our night on the town.

We hit our favorite spots, each one holding a bittersweet memory, a reminder of the times we had laughed and lived so freely. There were mixed emotions throughout the night. There was certainly plenty of excitement for what lay ahead and sorrow for what I was leaving behind.

First stop was the oceanfront bar where I’d celebrated my last three birthdays. We ordered our favorite cocktails, toasting to new beginnings and reminiscing about the old days.

Lucia teared up as she clinked glasses. “Here’s to bigger and better adventures, but man, will I miss these crazy nights with you guys.”

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, grinning. “Hey, I’ll visit, and you guys will visit me. We’ll make sure Dallas knows how to party properly. Maybe not Miami-level, but we can certainly try.”

The night wore on with more laughter, tears, and heartwarming stories into our shared past. It was as if we were trying to absorb as much of each other as possible. I was going to miss them like crazy. It was going to be a difficult adjustment but being with Kannon would certainly make it better.

Next stop was our favorite late-night food joint for some comfort food. Dominique ordered enough fries for an army, laughing as Lucia’s eyes widened at the huge pile of food set before us. Waves of nostalgia washed over us as we sat there, munching on the fries and sipping on our drinks. It was like old times.

After stuffing our faces, the three of us found ourselves at our favorite spot: the quiet marina where we spent too many nights sitting on the edge, legs swinging over the water, engrossed in heart-to-hearts.

Dominique pulled out a bottle of wine, something we had done so many times before. We passed the bottle around, drinking straight from it.

“Do you think you and Kannon will get married?” Lucia asked.

“I don’t know,” I replied. “We’ve only officially been a couple for a few weeks. I think marriage might be rushing it.”

“But you’ve known him forever,” Dominique said. “You two have been in love forever.”

“So it’s like a twenty-year engagement,” Lucia added.

I laughed. “With him being married to another woman during part of that twenty years.”

“That doesn’t count,” Dominique said.

“I don’t know. Honestly, I do think we’re going to be together for the rest of our lives. It’s strange, but it’s just this feeling I have.”

“You’ve always been the patient sort,” Lucia chimed in, rolling the wine bottle between her hands. “We’ll just have to see where life takes you and Kannon.”

I could hear the waves lapping against the boats in the marina, their lines tinging against the metal masts.

“Let’s promise something,” Dominique suddenly said. “No matter what happens or where we end up, let’s make sure we meet up at least once a year. Somewhere, anywhere, but together.”

“That’s a deal,” I told them, raising my hand to clasp it together with theirs.

We stayed there for a while longer, sharing laughter and a few more tears. Eventually, it was time to head back to what was left of my apartment. The silence during the ride home was comfortable, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

I got out of the cab and hugged each of them. I blinked back tears. “I’ll call you guys every day,” I said.

I waved as the cab with my two best friends drove away. I went upstairs and looked around at my empty apartment. I stretched out on my mattress. My phone buzzed. Kannon’s name lit up the screen. My heart gave that familiar little flutter. I swiped to answer.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey, beautiful,” he replied. “How’s the packing going? Surviving the chaos?”

“I’m packed and ready. Your timing is perfect, though. I just got home and was thinking about you. What’s up?”

“I think I found the one,” he said, a note of excitement creeping in.

My brow furrowed. “The one what?”

“The house. Check your messages.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and tapped into my texts. There it was—a link to a real estate listing. I clicked it, and the moment the picture loaded, I gasped.

“No way,” I breathed.

“What?” Kannon asked, amused. “You don’t like it?”

“I know this house,” I said, my voice filled with disbelief. “I used to ride my bike past it all the time when I was a kid. I’d stop and just stare at it, wishing it could be mine. I can’t believe it’s still there.”

The house was even more beautiful than I remembered. It was blue with white shutters, just like I’d always loved, and the wraparound porch was framed by a massive willow tree. Wisteria climbed one side, its purple and green blooms trailing toward the roof. It was perfect.

“You love it?” Kannon asked, his voice softer now.

“I love it,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “It’s perfect.”

“Good,” he said. “Because I can’t wait to see your face when we go check it out together.”

I smiled, my heart feeling too big for my chest. “I can’t wait either. But for now, I have to get through one more night here.”

“Just one more night,” he echoed. “And then we can start the rest of our lives.”

“Deal,” I whispered.

“See you tomorrow night for our date,” he said.

“I can’t wait. I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Goodnight, Kannon.”

“Goodnight, Merritt.”

I hung up and stared at the picture of the house for a moment longer before putting the phone down. It felt like everything was finally falling into place. We had talked about buying a house together, but it was all happening fast. That wasn’t a bad thing. I was thrilled with the idea. It was what I wanted. We were moving forward. Both of us were starting new chapters together.

Our chapter.