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We sit outside on the terrace, the breeze warm but laced with the bittersweet finality of the trip. Jett leans forward, elbows on his knees, his gaze distant. “This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.”
“No,” I say softly. “It wasn’t.”
“I wanted you and Brooke to have more time,” he continues, his voice rough around the edges. “I wanted us to have more time.”
My chest tightens. “And now?”
He looks at me then, his eyes shadowed but intense. “Now … we go back. And we figure it out.”
I nod again, but the ache in my chest doesn’t ease. I don’t know whatfiguring it outmeans for us. For me. For Brooke. But I know one thing—this is the last night I’ll let myself hope for something more.
Our moods are somber, and I can sense that Jett needs to be alone. I know I do. I can’t spend the night with him. There’s so much to think about, and maybe it’s time to disengage, to uncouple softly.
“Cari.” He takes my hands in his and presses his forehead against mine, his voice tortured. This is painful for me, but I thought he would be stronger. That his father's appearance would remind him of his life back in New York and maybe he would ease off a little. “I hate that this ended so abruptly.”
“Life is full of curveballs.” I attempt a smile but fail miserably.
His mouth claims mine and his tongue sweeps in, dueling with my own. We taste each other, kissing roughly with wanton need. His hips grind against mine, pinning me against the wall, his hardness evident. I sigh inwardly, knowing how easy it would be to go to bed with him, and give myself to him again. But he inches away, perhaps realizing that we need to start disentangling.
His fingers trace over my face, and the way he stares at me, with such intensity, makes me shiver.
“I should go,” I say, finally.
He nods, and we say goodnight, before returning to our separate rooms.
This is our last night here. Tomorrow, it’s back to reality. Back to the office, where I have one week left before my notice ends. Seven days to wrap up my life with Jett and Brooke. Seven days to pretend I’m fine walking away from the man who’s been such a big part of my world for three years, even if most of it was imaginary. But these last few weeks have more than made up for all the fantasies that sustained me during that time. Seven days to slowly sever the bond with the little girl who’s become a piece of my heart.
And then what? What happens to us? To Brooke, who hugs me every morning like I’m part of her family? To Jett, who knows me better than anyone, and yet… still feels miles away when it comes to what we mean to each other?
We never talked about it. About what would happen after this trip. We didn’t even plan for our return to New York. We were focused on paradise, on the dream of what could be. But now paradise has crumbled, leaving behind nothing but unanswered questions and a hollow ache in my chest.
Chapter 46
JETT
We fly back to New York in first class again, but this time it’s different. Instead of having Cari and Brooke seated rows behind me, they’re close. Brooke is her usual bubbly self, happily coloring, but Cari … Cari is quiet. Too quiet.
We didn’t spend our last night together. We kissed and went our separate ways, maybe we’re both trying to process what these weeks have meant and what the future holds. It’s something we would have talked about had we managed to get away, but my father’s suffocating presence put an end to that.
It feels like my father left something behind when he flew out—a heavy lingering shadow that presses down on both of us. All the possibilities that existed before his arrival now seem dead, replaced by silence of what-ifs.
On the flight, I try to make conversation, but it’s like speaking into a void. Cari has her nose buried in a book, and while I pretend to work, my laptop stays closed. My focus isn’t on the Pinewood deal or anything else—it’s on her. On us.
I glance at Brooke. She’s coloring, blissfully unaware of the tension between me and Cari. She doesn’t understand what’s happened over the last few days, and I envy her innocence.
When we land back in New York, the familiar black SUV is waiting for us when we land, sleek and polished, like a reminder that reality is waiting to swallow us whole. The ride is quiet, save for Brooke’s occasional chatter, and when we finally pull up to Cari’s building, my chest tightens.
This is it.
Cari opens the door, stepping out as Brooke immediately leans over, reaching for her. “Why don’t you come back home with us?” Brooke asks, her voice light, hopeful.
Cari freezes, her eyes darting to mine for guidance. I can see her struggling, her lips parting but no words coming out. Finally, she crouches down to Brooke’s level, her voice soft. “I have to go back to my place, sweetie.”
Brooke frowns. “But why? Why can’t you come live with us? You were living with us there!”
“I know, sweetie.” Cari cups Brooke’s face gently. “That was just for vacation. I was looking after you while we were away.”
“But I want you.” Brooke’s lower lip trembles.