Page 5 of The Getaway
“Ready?” Connor questions as he rounds the hood of the truck and opens the driver’s side door.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I whisper more to myself before jumping into the cab beside him.
Chapter 3- Sabrina
“Holy shit.”
Those two words have been on repeat since the moment I set foot on the resort. Every new view that I come across takes my breath away and leaves me in awe of the beauty that surrounds me.
Standing in the middle of my bungalow, I slowly spin around, taking in the place that I’ll be staying at for the next five days.
Pictures do not do this place justice.
The open concept layout, giant glass sliding doors at the back, and light wooden colors of the furniture make the bungalow seem bigger than it actually is. Everything here is the perfect mixture of luxury and beachy.
Simple, small decorations are scattered around the open living room and kitchen. There’s thick glass on the floor of the small living room, momentarily drawing my attention to the water below. But nothing takes away from the main focal point.
From where I’m standing in the entryway, I can see the edges of the infinity pool and the sleek outdoor furniture through the back doors. Except that’s not what finally makes me move.
My feet step forward on their own accord, bringing me closer to the crystal-clear water. Opening the back door, I smile as the salty, fresh air hits me.
It’s like I’ve stepped into my own personal heaven.
Since my bungalow is at the end of the row, the ocean is the only view, displaying colorful fish that dart quickly in the waters all around.
It’s literally the view of a lifetime.
Before I can stop them, tears prick at the corners of my eyes and my heart pounds heavily in my chest.
Maybe I shouldn’t have come…
I shake that thought away just as quickly as it came. Yes, this trip was booked with the intention of celebrating Paul and I, but there’s no going back now. I made my decision and it’s what was for the best. For both of us.
For the past ten years, I have lived my life according to what was best for Paul, his career, and what made him happy. That’s not to say I’m not successful in my career. I’m well respected by my team, make good money, and have worked hard to be where I am.
But it’s not what I went to college to do.
Staring out over the sparkling water, I think of everything I have turned down or held back on, all so Paul could focus on his role as chief executor at his father’s company.
Another piece of my heart breaks at the reminder of all that I have put on hold for him. Without even noticing, I sacrificed and changed myself past the point of recognition.
Being here, away from the city and the chaos of the life I am leaving behind, was exactly what I needed.
Not just as a break from wedding cancellations or time off from work and the life I hadn’t planned to be a part of. I need time to find myself and start figuring out what to do from here.
Sinking down onto the lounge chair, I suck in a deep breath through my nose.
I have been hiding my dissatisfaction with my job and going through the motions in all aspects of my life. Saying “I love you, too” in response by default for so long, that I’m now certain the words have lost their meaning for good.
A tear slips free as images of Paul’s heartbroken face play through my mind. I never meant to hurt him. Never meant to break his heart or shatter the picture-perfect image he had of us.
But staying with Paul simply to make him happy would have killed me. I would never be able to live with the lie of not loving him like he loved me. We both deserved better than that.
Regardless of the fact that I made the decision to end the relationship, it doesn’t lessen the pain.
As the war of emotions battles within me, I decide to give myself five minutes.
Five minutes to mourn the loss of a friend and the life we had together. Five minutes to be pissed at myself for allowing things to go on this long and losing myself along the way. Five minutes to pity how lost I had become and all the lies I didn’t know I was telling.