Instead, I snuck my phone to the lounge and read and reread his messages. Already missing him.

I made the right choice.

He couldn’t just follow me to the Bahamas and tell me he’d made a mistake and expect me to throw myself at him.

I couldn’t think of a bigger gesture than all the things he’d already said and done, but somehow, it wasn’t enough.

Either that, or I was truly moving on.

The sun was out most of the day and even though I stayed in again, my vanilla latte found me when a staff member brought it over.

I hadn’t seen him, but I knew he was still here.

There was a beach party on Friday night since it was the last night for a lot of the guests. After dinner I changed into a pale green spaghetti strap dress that hung just over the knees, a pair of low heel sandals and left my hair down. I was only here for two more days and needed to make the best of it, so I dolled up a little and planned to enjoy myself.

Respecting my wishes, August kept away from me, so I doubted he was going to be around tonight. Especially since the tiki bar was closed for this event.

I walked down to the deck and the steps that followed onto the beach. There was a stage set up and a dance floor. Chairs, beverages and barbeque spread around. The sun was setting and I breathed in salty ocean air, knowing it was only moments before my hair started to curl in random places from the humidity.

The MC started with light music as we gathered. There couldn’t have been more than thirty or forty people here. I sat on a bench set up along the back and grabbed a beer from the cooler, watching the sun set. Beth and Jill were also leaving in the morning, but I was staying until Sunday. Part of me wished I was leaving tomorrow too. I was done here. I needed more time than I could afford to get past the emptiness.

A handful of single women and some couples started to sway on the dance floor to familiar music and I watched them, knowing everyone here had their own reasons for being here and would all leave with a little more peace.

None of us will ever be truly and completely healed.

“So how do you know our mysterious bartender?” Jill asked.

I stared at her.

“I’m a lawyer, discovery is a big part of my job.”

When I wasn’t quite convinced, she went on. “You can also cut the tension with a knife when you two are together. Not from his side though…he’s all peaches and roses. You’re the one with the issue.”

I released a breath. “He’s the twin.”