Page 31

31

P aisley

Three days later…

We watch the aircraft land. It’s weird; it feels like just the other day when we landed here on the island. It also feels like so much has happened since.

“This is it,” I tell Maggie. “It’s nearly time.” The aircraft taxies into the parking bay.

Maggie is crying when she hugs me. We hold on to each other for a few long moments. Maggie’s shoulders are shaking with silent sobs.

“Stop with the tears,” I tell her, pulling away and holding her at arm’s length for a few seconds before letting her go. “I didn’t peg you for a crier.” I laugh softly even though I feel like crying myself. If I start, I won’t be able to stop, so I hold back.

I’ll cry when I get back to the Mainland. I’ll have plenty of time for that then.

She sniffs, wiping her face. “I’m not normally a crier. I swear. I can’t believe you’re leaving. It’s all my fault,” she says for at least the tenth time, and that’s only today.

“Stop it.” I shake my head.

“But I was the one who told you to go for it. I told you to meet him in the forest. I called you a prude.” She starts crying again, her lip wobbling. Her eyes are red-rimmed. Her nose is running. She hiccups.

“It isn’t your fault. I am a grown-ass woman. I make my own decisions. It doesn’t matter what you said or what you called me. I did exactly what I wanted to do. We got caught. And I’m not completely unhappy about it.”

“Are you nuts?” Mags looks at me like I just grew another head. “But you love it here.” She wipes her eyes, looks through her purse, and pulls out a Kleenex.

“I love it a little too much, and if I’m honest with myself, I was starting to fall for him.” I make a face.

Her eyes go wide. She wipes her nose, shoving the tissue back into her bag.

“The truth is…” I go on, “I would have had a hard time letting him go and watching him date those other women.” It would have hurt me…to my core. “I would have ended up resigning, anyway. It’s better this way. It’s a clean break. No harm done.”

“Maybe you’re right. I somehow had this feeling that the two of you would end up together like a magical fairytale.”

I laugh, even though it hurts just thinking about that outcome. “Fairytales don’t happen in the real world.”

“Sometimes they do.” She looks over at Hazard, who is waiting on the other side of the small airport building.

He waves.

Maggie giggles and waves back. “I’m so screwed,” she mutters.

“It’ll be fine.”

She sucks in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “I’ve had several panic attacks since agreeing to carry on with our…thing.”

“Relationship.”

“Nope, not calling it that.”

I laugh. “You are in a relationship, Maggie. I think it’s great.”

She starts breathing in and out and too fast. She clutches her chest, looking like she might faint.

“You’re going to hyperventilate, Maggie. Okay, fine. You guys are just hooking up.”

She instantly relaxes. “Yes, I like that more. Let’s call it that.” Her breathing slows and normalizes. “Don’t say something like that again.”

I giggle. “Noted.” I shake my head.

“Back to you and Arctic and the fairytale I thought would happen.”

“We’re too different. I like simple, and Arctic is a king. He needs children, and I can’t have them. I guess that’s the bottom line.”

Maggie sniffs. “I guess so. There will be someone out there for you.” She takes my hand and squeezes. “I hope you know that.”

“I do.” I’m not so sure I’ll ever find my person. My mind instantly goes to Arctic; I shut down the thought completely.

“So, you’re going to stay with your other BFF? I’m jealous, by the way.”

I giggle. “Yep. Thankfully, Rebecca and her fiancé have agreed to take me in for a few weeks while I find my feet.”

“You said you rented out your apartment?”

“I did indeed. I don’t plan on staying in Cedar Pines, so it’s all good. I still want to stick to my plan and travel. I’ll go to Europe. I’m sure they need nurses on that side of the world.”

“At least you don’t have to worry too much about money since you’re getting paid out for your contract.”

I nod, feeling bad about that. In fact, the money is already in my bank, and I haven’t left the island yet.

“Stop that!” Maggie looks at me sternly. “Do not do that. I can see that you feel guilty about it. You have nothing to feel bad about.”

“I was sleeping with my boss. I resigned. I wasn’t let go. I don’t deserve the money.”

“Bullshit. The rules on this island are stupid. You’re two consenting adults who weren’t hurting anyone with your actions. That stupid cow gets to keep her job, even though she was snooping around and hoping to catch Arctic with his pants down so that she could try to play with his trouser snake. She got off easy.”

“Forget about Cathy,” I say.

“I can’t forget about her. She’s a total bitch. The good news is that I firmly believe she will get what’s coming to her in the long run. People like that always do.”

“The only reason she’s acting like this is because she’s just jealous and maybe a little bit sad, and I can’t say I blame her. She really thought that Arctic had a thing for her. There is a small part of me that feels bad for her. It’s a small part, though.”

“You’re too darned nice. She’s a bi—”

There is a big commotion on the other side of the small terminal. Steel is hugging a woman. He has her completely off her feet and is swinging her around. They kiss and then kiss again before he puts her down. She’s really pretty. They make such a great couple. He pulls her into another bear hug.

There’s laughter and crying and so much happiness it hurts to watch them together. It’s clear to see that they’re in love.

There is a lady in a wheelchair. She’s beaming up at Steel and his girlfriend. Steel leans in and shakes her hand. Then, he goes down on his haunches and introduces himself to a young boy of about seven or eight. The kid looks a little shy but shakes Steel’s hand. He smiles at something Steel says.

A pilot walks in behind them. He sees me with my bags at my feet and walks over. “Miss Paisley Reed?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“I’m First Officer Stevens. We’re refueling and plan on taking off in the next twenty minutes. Can I help you with your bags?”

I nod. “That would be great. Thank you.”

He hoists the bigger of the two on his back and then tries to take my big wheelie bag, as well.

“It’s fine, I’ll manage.”

“You need to start saying your goodbyes.” He glances at Maggie. “Christie will want to do the safety briefing well before take-off.”

“I’ll be right there.”

He starts to walk away, slightly bent under the weight of my bag.

A woman has just walked into the airport building. She looks around, unsure of where to go.

“That must be the new nurse. I hate her already,” Maggie mutters, her eyes on the woman who is now wandering aimlessly.

“Maggie!” I laugh. “You don’t mean that. She looks nice.”

Maggie sighs. “She does. I wish you could stay…that’s all. I don’t want anyone to take your place.”

“We’ll message each other. And I’ll call, too. I promise.”

The poor woman starts walking toward the exit. She looks like she might burst into tears at any second.

“I suppose I’d better help her,” Maggie grumbles, rolling her eyes. “Yoo-hoo! Over here.” She waves.

The woman instantly brightens up and rushes over. “Oh, thank god. I wasn’t sure what to do or where to go. Truth be told, I’m a little afraid. There are shifters on this island,” she whispers, looking around like a dragon might jump out at us.

Maggie and I take one look at each other and laugh because we understand her nerves completely. We were her once.

Maggie clasps the woman’s arm. “You’re fine. Everything is going to be okay. My name is Margaret, but you can call me Maggie.”

The woman sighs. “I’m Tessa, but you can call me Tess.” She turns to me.

“I’m leaving.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widen, and her mouth makes the shape of an “O” for a few long seconds. “You must be who I’m replacing. Is it bad? Is that why you’re leaving? I’m starting to think I made a mistake coming here.”

“No, it’s great. Dr. du Pont is a little old-fashioned but a real sweetheart. He’s great to work for. I’m needed back at the Mainland. Otherwise, I would have stayed.”

“Don’t leave me!” Maggie wails.

We hug, and Maggie starts crying again.

“Oh, Mags. We’ll see each other again. Let me know when you’re next on the Mainland visiting your sisters. You have three of them, so I can’t imagine they would let you stay away too long.”

“You’re right about that, but you’ll be in Europe.” She wipes her eyes.

“Not forever, silly. We’ll keep in touch, and we will meet again; I just know it.”

“I’m holding you to it.” We hug again. “Let me know when you get there safely.”

“I will.”

“Come on, Tess. Let’s get you settled,” Maggie says as I walk away. “Let me introduce you to your very first shifter. This is Hazard.”

I glance back.

The newbie looks up at the big shifter with wide eyes.

He smiles and holds out a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“You’re huge, but you seem nice.” They shake hands. “Can you really morph into a dragon?”

Hazard chuckles. “I sure can.”

I walk outside the airport building and look over at the castle. I can just see the tops of the towers from here. I imagine Arctic looking this way, waiting for the airplane to take off. I’m probably being silly. I’m sure he’s at his desk or in a meeting.

“Paisley.”

I almost jump out of my skin. I turn, clutching my chest.

“Sorry.” Steel holds up a hand. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to say goodbye and to say thank you.”

“What for?” I make a face. “I almost caused a disaster.”

“You didn’t. You were there for Arctic. You’ve done the right thing by him every step of the way. I know he cares deeply for you.”

“He’s done the right thing by me, too. I just wish it could have been different.” I look down at the asphalt for a few seconds before looking back up.

“I know for sure he feels the same way. He’s been a mess since…that day.” Steel swallows thickly. “I’m sorry Cathy got through. It was all my fault.” He gets a sheepish look. “I was supposed to be keeping an eye out. I got distracted. Jen called.” He gestures to the building. “She’s my girlfriend.”

“I thought as much. You guys look happy. She seems nice.”

“She’s the best. I’m so lucky to have her. Anyway…” He looks over at the aircraft.

I follow his gaze and see one of the cabin crew at the top of the stairs looking over at us.

“Arctic wanted me to give you a message.”

My heart beats faster. I know he’s not going to beg me to stay. He can’t, even if he wants to. But to hear one more little thing from him is…it’s nice.

“He said he’s going to miss you. He also said to tell you that you have his number. That you should call if you ever needed him.”

I nod. “Thanks.”

“Don’t call him, Paisley. I mean…” He runs his hand through his hair, mussing it. “It’s better if there’s a clean break. I don’t want to see him hurt. He went through so much with Anya and Ice. I don’t want to see him stuck in such a dark place again. I’m hoping that maybe he will start to live again, but if you reach out—”

“It’s fine, Steel. I get it. I want a clean break, too.”

He nods. “I wish you all the best, Paisley.”

“To you, too.” Then I’m walking toward the aircraft, pulling my suitcase behind me. I steal another glance at the castle.

“Goodbye,” I whisper under my breath.

It hurts. It really hurts, even though it shouldn’t. Not after such a short time. It’ll get better. It has to.