Chapter 84

Juno

Land had never been such a welcome sight before, but it took longer than I'd have liked to get docked somewhere. Because a bunch of the moorings had broken, there were boats floating free in the water, and people were trying to move everything around and fix the mess.

In the end, the captain of the boat that had rescued us ordered the smaller boat to be lowered again and to take us to a set of stairs on the harbor wall that ran up from the water.

We were being rowed there when I spotted Jack's boat in the harbor and pointed it out to him. He looked relieved for only a moment. The main mast was broken, and it was off its mooring as well and partially beached. It hadn't fared as badly as some of the other boats, but it was leaning at an angle, and I wouldn't have wanted to be the person trying to get it back in the water without breaking it.

"That explains why they didn't come get us," Jack said, his face unreadable.

"Sorry," I said, but he shrugged.

"It's a boat. As long as the crew and the band are okay, the boat can be fixed or replaced."

Although Jack's expression seemed to match his words, he regarded the stairs we were approaching with a sad look in his eyes. I bit my lip as I thought about what I wanted to do next.

I loved Jack. I knew that for sure, but I couldn't do this, and I knew I was about to hurt us both. There was no way I could go any deeper, and it was better to break both our hearts now before it got any worse.

Jack got onto the steps first and reached a hand back for me and my stuff.

With my laptop tucked as safely as I could get it under one arm and my bag on the same shoulder, I let him help me up one last time.

"Thank you," I called back to the sailors before we climbed the steps, and Jack led me along the wall to the town.

It was busier than I'd expected, but we didn't get much farther before a familiar male voice yelled Jack's name. Kai was standing on the street closest to Jack's boat and had spotted us approaching.

We immediately headed that way, Jack picking up speed. The two men hugged, and then Kai embraced me as well.

"Is everyone else okay?" I asked before Jack could.

"Yes. We're all fine. We took refuge in a well-built hotel a few blocks up the road, and they made sure we were all taken care of. The others are there now. We should let them know you're both alive and look well enough. What happened on the island?" Kai asked.

Jack's sigh and the slump of his shoulders said everything. Kai put a hand on his shoulder.

"We'll get it fixed. As long as you're both safe and unharmed."

"We are now," I replied for Jack.

This was enough to get us all moving again. Kai informed us of the state of the much larger island, saying the airport was about to open again, but flights were fully booked. The private jet had taken a beating as well and was receiving a full inspection.

I listened, letting the two men talk about details I didn't entirely understand as we walked up the quiet streets toward the hotel.

Kai led us inside, and we found Alma and Eve waiting in the lobby. They both squealed when they saw us and came running up, although Eve made far more of a fuss about Jack being okay than me. Alma wouldn't stop hugging us both.

"We were so worried about you." Alma looked us over as if she was trying to figure out what had happened to us.

"And us you," Jack replied.

There were more hugs and exclamations as the rest of the group came down from the rooms they were staying in, and then we all found somewhere comfy to sit and catch up.

While Jack went off to get more information on the airport and how long we might be here for, I told the band and partners what had happened on the island.

I shook at a few points while I spoke, even tearing up when I thought of having to pull myself against the water flow to get out of the shelter, but Alma took my hand and gave me a sympathetic smile.

By the time I finished telling them our part of the story, Jack was back. He gave me a nod as if he appreciated what I'd said and wanted to talk to me. The others got the hint.

"Let's give these two some space to rest, and we'll all have lunch together in a bit," Kai said, encouraging the others to leave.

I got a look from Alma, but she let her husband pull her away until there was no one left but Jack and me. I wanted to follow them, sensing that we were getting to the moment I needed to tell Jack I was leaving.

"It looks like it's going to be a while until the flights start up again," he said. "I've booked us a room. We should probably get a little more sleep before we join the others."

I nodded, intending to go with him but not necessarily to sleep more. We needed to talk about everything in private, and then I needed to say goodbye.

Trying not to worry about it, I let Jack lead me to a room. Neither of us said anything at all, and it was clear that he had picked up on my change in attitude toward him. The tension between us grew until he managed to get the room door unlocked, and we both strolled in. I didn't put my stuff down, but Jack dropped the keys onto a small coffee table in front of a loveseat-style sofa.

The room wasn't anywhere near as fancy as the first one he'd ever taken me to, but it was still more plush than any I'd ever been in before that.

Still, neither of us spoke, standing in the room, looking toward each other but not meeting each other's gazes. I tried to think of a way to begin the conversation, but nothing I thought of sounded right, and Jack either didn't want to break the awkward silence or didn't know exactly how to either.

Eventually, he sat down. He leaned forward, one hand going through his hair, and exhaled. I finally looked at him, but he didn't even attempt to look my way.

An ache grew in my chest at the thought of walking out of the hotel door and never seeing him again, but I knew I had to. I couldn't seem to find a way to trust him, and I didn't belong in his world. I wasn't wealthy enough to take the rollercoaster ride.

But how did I tell him that? How did I tell him that without making him feel like I thought he was the monster the media portrayed? I didn't think he was the cruel, abusive man he'd been accused of being, but I was broken, and he deserved better.

I tried to move closer to get his attention. He finally glanced up, but he didn't speak. Instead, he sat back and surveyed me.

"You're trying to figure out how to tell me you're leaving for good, aren't you?" Jack asked, the pain it caused him making his voice crack slightly.

I felt tears sting my eyes as I nodded.

Yes. Yes, I was. And there was no stopping it now.