Page 78 of When You Were Mine

“How do you want to make my life better?”

“I want to travel with you, see the world. All the things I didn’t get to do because I was working toward becoming a partner and then opening my own firm. I was raising kids and trying to be the kind of husband my ex wanted. You don’t have any expectations for me. You let me be whoever I am. You don’t nag me all the time.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure if we spent more time together, the nagging would kick in.”

He laughed. “I think we can cut to the chase. You’re breaking up with me. Is there anything I can do to change your mind? I’d hate to lose you.”

He’d hate to lose me?

Wow.What kind of person settled for such a lackluster relationship?A coward. “Since you left, neither of us has bothered to check in with each other. That’s pretty telling, don’t you think?”

“Will you do me a favor?” he asked. “Will you hold off your decision until we see each other again?”

No. Because she was seeing clearly now. “Coming to Iceland, taking a break from my real life, has given me the space to see our connection isn’t strong enough. It’s not your fault. It’s not mine. It’s two people who are not excited enough about each other.” And maybe it wasn’t fair because she’d never again be a sixteen-year-old girl racing around the countryside with a beautiful boy who adored her. Maybe no other relationship could compare to a first love, but unfortunately, she’d just spent an entire evening with hers, and she knew she could never settle for bland feelings again.

Not after that kiss.

“I’m sorry, Joel.”

“I blew it. I’m sorry for cutting you out. I’m sorry for making you feel like you weren’t important to me.”

“Again, it’s not your fault. We just didn’t work.”

After she got off the phone, she rolled onto her side. Strangely, she didn’t feel sad.

She felt relieved.

This sense of lightness, of possibility, made her feel hopeful.

As she shut off the lamp, she remembered she’d silenced her phone during dinner.Oops.She’d better take a quick look at her messages.

She hoped Joel didn’t try to press his case. As an attorney, he could argue his point of view for days. He liked to win. But there was no arguing his way back into a relationship where she wasn’t someone’s first choice.

Been there, done that.

As she scrolled through the texts and emails, only one name caught her attention.

Trevor.

Trevor: You’ve got to come out here. You won’t believe this.

Trevor: Elz, seriously. Come outside.

What did he want? They weren’t going to figure anything out tonight. She should just ignore him, go to sleep.

Yeah, right. Like that’s going to happen.

Trevor: If I knew what floor you were on, I’d throw rocks at your window. GET DOWN HERE.

Trevor: Look out the window.

He made everything fun and exciting. Throwing off the covers, she hurried across the room and pulled back the black-out curtains to see the most surreal sight. A green ribbon of light danced in the sky.

Jessica: Is that the northern lights?

Trevor: Yes. You better be on your way down here.

Jessica: Coming.

---