25

Charlie is waiting for me on the boat. I’m standing on the dock with my dad and Morgan, telling her it’s okay to cry. She’s frantically trying to wipe away her tears. I know she’s mad at herself for not being stoic in this moment, but I’m really okay with her showing her true feelings.

Because I feel it, too. I don’t want to leave her. She’s never left me, not once, even when all the other kids did. I hope she doesn’t see my last wish as a betrayal of our friendship.

“Does it hurt?” my dad asks. I’m not sure if he means the sun or his grip around me. But neither does. Not really.

I lower the hood on my sweatshirt and tilt my face up to the sun, holding my arms out wide. The light washes over me. I feel truly at peace. “It feels amazing. It feels better than I even imagined.”

I turn to face Morgan. “I love you so much.”

She pulls me into a fierce hug. “Everyone sucks compared to you. I’m screwed for life. You’ve ruined me.”

“Well, you saved me,” I tell her. “Thanks for not believing Zoe when she said I was a vampire.”

Morgan starts laughing through her tears. “That whore? I told you, she is the actual devil. I would never have turned on you.”

I shake my head and smile at her. “And you never did.”

“And I never will.”

“Don’t I know it.”

I turn to face my dad. I reach out for his hand. I’m staring at him, trying to memorize his face. Every line, every curve, every whisker. I have him to thank for my life. For everything I love and cherish.

“Promise you’ll let yourself be happy?”

I can only leave him and get on this boat now if I know he’ll take care of himself after I’m gone. To love and be loved again. Follow his passions to the farthest corners of the earth with someone special by his side, I hope. Maybe Jessica is the one? And if not, someone deserving of the incredible man he is.

Dad nods, his face full of emotion. “I promise.”

We hug each other tightly. I want to bottle up everything we’ve been and done for each other and spread it all over the entire planet. Let the world experience what pure goodness feels like.

“I don’t know how the universe works, Katie,” my dad says, his voice choked with tears. “But thank you for choosing me to be your dad. I’ve truly loved every second of it.”

I laugh. “I’m not sure that’s how it works, but right back at you,” I say. “I love you.”

“Love you more,” my dad tells me.

I shake my head and smile at him. “Not possible.”

I turn toward Charlie, who’s waiting to help me onto the boat. I wave to my dad and Morgan. “My first boat ride,” I say, trying to lighten the moment.

“I’ll be right here. On the dock. Waiting for you, okay?” Dad calls out to me.

I nod. “I know you will.”

Charlie has one arm wrapped tightly around me as he steers with the other. He looks gorgeous, strong, in control. He’s everything I ever imagined he’d be and more.

My legs buckle under me. I’m so tired. He stares down at me and smiles. “I’ve got ya. Don’t worry.”

I gaze out at the horizon, breathing in the beautiful daytime air. Letting myself bask in it. In the sun. It’s a mix of colors I’ve never seen before—a cool blue that fades into purple, which blends into a fiery orange, and all of it is slowly dropping into the edge of the water. It feels like it’s just for me. I turn to face Charlie. “I’ve waited my whole life to feel like this.”

He kisses me, and I taste the salt of his tears.

“Me, too,” he says.

“Okay, Katie, time for us to go back in.”

I open my eyes and see that my mom is playing her guitar as she says this. The sun is setting behind her, and it’s like the sky is on fire. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“Can’t we stay here forever?” I ask.

“Forever, huh? That’s a pretty long time.”

“I know,” I say, and reach out to strum the guitar along with her.

“Well, let me ask you this: Are you having fun right now?”

I nod.

“Then now is all that matters.”