Page 121 of Craving Paradise
Freya stares at me in disbelief before I burst out laughing. “You asshole,” she curses as she slaps my arm. “Tell me what she said.”
“Things are still awkward between us, but I don’t think all hope is lost.”
“I told you,” she says, looking happy with herself.
“She’s coming home within the month. Eloise and Lauren have decided to be partners in the bakery, so they are leaving the island.”
“No fricken way. That’s awesome. They are going to be unstoppable … those two together. Eloise is an amazing baker, but I don’t think she has the business skills to pull off a business by herself. And Lauren, she knows business. She’s grown up in it, and she’s crazy smart. Did you know she was one of the top five girls in her grade? She got like a 4.9 GCSE, and then I think she did some A-Levels too.”
Oh wow. That’s smart, which upsets me that she never thought she was good enough.
“How do you feel about her coming home?”
“I’m not sure. I’m excited and happy but also apprehensive. What happens if we’ve lost the spark we once had? What happens if what we felt for each other thanks to time and bullshit has disappeared?”
“What happens if the spark burns even brighter? What happens if your heart explodes when you see her, you fall to your knees and confess your undying love to her right then and there?”
My eyes narrow as I look over at her, shaking my head at her romanticism.
“I’m just happy we are talking again.”
“If you make an effort to stay in touch, then I guarantee you she will be on your doorstep the moment she steps off the plane.”
I sure as hell hope so.
“Why are you frowning? You better not be having second thoughts. Otherwise, I will hit you over the head with this magazine.”
“No, there are no second thoughts. I’m worried she might have them, and I don’t know if I can go through that heartbreak again.”
“Aww, Jay, that’s so cute.”
“Am I an idiot for getting my hopes up?”
“Never. I’m so proud of you for taking this leap after everything. I promise Lauren won’t let you down. If she tells you she still has feelings for you, that’s the truth. I know she’s mucked you around, but it wasn’t because she didn’t love you. It was because she loved you enough to let you go because she couldn’t be the right one for you in that moment. And I think that’s what love truly is, Jasper. Putting the other person’s needs ahead of your own.”
“She chose her best friend, not me.”
“Not really. Her plan was always to help Eloise. You tried to get in the way of that, so instead of stringing you along, she told you she needed to see this through, and until then, she couldn’t be with you.”
Maybe she’s right when she explains it like that.
“I get what you’re saying.”
“Give her one last chance. I promise she won’t let you down.”
“Fine, oh wise one.” I chuckle.
Freya flips me off.
* * *
My phone beeps, and it’s a notification from Lauren’s socials she posted a new photo. It’s of her tanned thighs in front of the white sandy beach and the turquoise blue of the ocean behind her.
With the caption,Wish you were here.
Who is that for? Me? Someone else?
The photo isn’t meant to be sexy, but irritatingly it is.