Page 149 of Crystal Iris
“What is this?” I ask as he motions for me to get on the boat.
“Dinner.”
“On a boat?”
“Yes. I wanted our last night to be… special.”
I hesitate. If this were anyone else, I would have walked away. But it’s Aaron. I do trust him. He helps me onto the boat.
“This is…” I look around as the boat drifts into the water.
“I should have done more when we were together. I should have done this before,” he tells meaffectionately.
I know better than to say anything.
There’s a table set up on the deck of the boat, beautifully lit with candles. He pulls my chair out, and I can’t help but stare at him. The man I almost said yes to spending my life with. He looks handsome in his crisp white shirt and navy blazer.
“This is beautiful,” I tell him.
He pours us wine.
“To the one who got away.” He raises his glass.
“To the last fifteen years,” I say.
A waiter brings our entrée. I have no appetite, but even so, the few bites I take are delicious.
Aaron doesn’t seem interested in the food either.
I look around us, and then he stands up. “You owe me a dance.”
“What?”
He pulls out his phone, presses something, and slips it into his pocket. I recognize the song—the very one we had chosen for our wedding dance.
His eyes beg me. I stand up and take his hand.
He holds me close, moving with the song. I let myself enjoy this moment with him,our last moment. There’s nothing around us now, the city lights far away. We dance, and tears form in my eyes. He looks at me and wipes them away with his thumb. There’s so much history between us—so many memories, all muddied by my cowardice, my dishonesty. We deserved to part ways differently.
His lips brush mine, and for a moment, I let myself feel him, feel us. Before the kiss can intensify, I pull back.
“I can’t, Aaron.”
“Because of him?”
I nod yes.
He follows me to the edge of the boat.
“What’s the plan? Are you moving to Montana, or is he coming here?”
I hold tight to the railing.
“Aaron… I don’t want to?—”
“You don’t know. I can tell. I still know you better than anyone.”
“We’re figuring things out.”
