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I look down at my hands.
I wish things were different.
If I could believe that Seven wanted the same things that I do, and if I wasn't so hellbent on making my dad proud, this decision would be so much harder.
At the end of the day Seven needs to fix his family and I need to find out if my eight-year relationship has finally ran its course.
"I'm sorry," I say softly, tears welling in my eyes, but I don't let a single one drop.
I grip at my necklace, rubbing the pendent space needle between my fingers.
"Don't apologize Brynn. I had you for a time and I'm grateful for every minute. I wouldn't take any of it back."
He leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my temple and then stands.
He doesn't say anything else as he heads for her Jeep.
I listen for his Jeep until I hear it rev to life and pull out of the parking area.
He's gone.
And now I have to pick myself back up out of the sand and live with the decision I've made.
Just as I stand, I see little speckles of black emerge from the sand.
Baby turtles are finally hatching in one of the nests as researchers go crazy, keeping a safe distance but getting all the pictures and data that they need.
I watch for a little bit and then realize that though seeing the baby turtles pop out from the sand and head for the sea, is a cool experience the real excitement I had for this date… was getting to spend it with Seven.
Without him… something missing.
My phone chimes with an incoming text and rip the phone from my pocket, desperately hoping that it's Seven but then I see the name.
Fiancé: I got my flights switched over to tomorrow morning. I couldn't get seats together but I'll check when we get there in the morning. I'm leaving the rental car for your parents. Do you think someone can give us a ride to the airport tomorrow?
I should be overjoyed to be flying back with Daniel but for some reason, I was looking for the last bit of alone time before Daniel came home Mexico. This is what I wanted for the last eight months and now here he is, making grand gestures left and right. Showing up here to see me, bringing my parents, changing his flights.
But those grand gestures also feel… I don't know, off a little. Maybe a little push? Or controlling. Maybe I'm reading too much into it.
I send a text to Rita and she agrees to drive me in and pick up Daniel on our way to the airport.
Then I decide to make a change to my contact list.
Brynn: Rita and I will be there to pick you up bright and early. See you tomorrow.
Daniel: Ok, see you soon. I love you.
He's the one I chose so why does it feel so wrong when I write out the words. I've said them to him a thousand times before, this should be no different… but then again, everything's different. Or maybe it's only me that's no longer the same.
Brynn: Love you too.
Walking into Scallywag's I make my rounds to say goodbye to everyone.
Rita makes me promise to come back against when I'm ready to write book two, Maria and I exchange social media handles so that we can keep up with each other, and Cammy plans a coffee meet-up at a cafe that I've never been to called Serendipity's Coffee Shop for a few weeks after we both return to Seattle to give me time to get through my book one edits and for her to get familiar with the new fall semester.
I'm relieved to be leaving with a connection to this place and these people. The idea of returning to work on book two already has me anxious to make plans with Rita, but with book one not even launched and Daniel and I needing to make some major decisions about our relationship, it will probably be months before I'm back.
I say goodbye to everyone and then head up to finish my last few chapters and pack the rest of my things.
