Four hours later, we’re all at the airport and I can’t wait to just get back to Silver Bay, crawl into bed and forget this weekend ever happened. This is the most exhausting and horrible birthday I’ve ever had. It blows my mind how when it started early this morning, all wrapped up in naked Luc, I was convinced it would be the best day of my life. I hate the universe right now. What a sick joke.
I had finally gotten myself together and joined my sisters on the beach with Jordan. They were giddy and couldn’t stop saying happy birthday and shoving gifts at me. Callie got me a beautiful vintage hair clip and Jordan and Jessie got me a beautiful leather-bound copy of poetry by my favorite poet, Robert Frost. Later we met up with Ashleigh, Leah and Cole for lunch and they gave me a gift card to my favorite clothing store and Ashleigh gave me a brand-new Coach wallet from her and Devin.
Luc showed up right as the waitress was bringing me a giant piece of chocolate cake with a candle in it. Everyone started singing “Happy Birthday.” It was ridiculously sweet and kind but it was near impossible to keep a smile on my face.
“Make a wish!” Jessie insisted as I leaned in to blow out the candle. My eyes automatically found Luc.
I wish I get over him—fast.
I blew out the candle and shared the giant slab of decadent cake with everyone. Luc stayed back a bit, hovering on the edge of the group, and I didn’t know whether that made me feel better or worse. Somehow I felt like it did both.
The flight back to Maine is quick and painless because Callie and I sit beside each other and Luc sits at the back by himself.
I’m so close to escape now, to my dream of getting away from him and forgetting this weekend ever happened, but as we hover around the baggage carousel waiting for our luggage, Luc corners me.
“Hey… I have to ask you something,” he says quietly as he blocks the rest of our group from our conversation with his hulking frame. I stare up at him and immediately think of him on top of me, naked with his dick inside me. I flush.
“Shoot,” I say casually. I really do wish someone would shoot—shoot me with a gun and put me out of my misery.
“I umm… I don’t know how much about last night you remember.” He clears his throat awkwardly and glances over his shoulder. Thankfully, no one is paying attention.
“I remember we had sex,” I counter, keeping my voice low, flat and unaffected. “What else is there?”
“Well… it was unprotected sex…” he adds quietly.
I stare at him. He looks so uncomfortable, just the look every girl wants to see after they give their heart and body to the man of their dreams. I blink.
“I didn’t use a condom,” he clarifies, like maybe I don’t understand. “I should have been more careful. We should have. I don’t want… I mean I’m sure you don’t want…”
“I’m on the pill,” I spit out. “Don’t worry, I won’t make this worse by having your baby.”
I turn and storm over to the other end of the baggage carousel and turn my back to him. I want to cry but I won’t. I definitely don’t need anyone else to know what happened. It would just give them all more reason to think of me as the pathetic little girl with the silly crush. The bags start appearing on the circular machine and, luckily, mine is one of the first off. I grab it and storm toward the exit.
“Rose!” Callie calls out, trying to stop me. She’s not an idiot; she knows something is wrong.
“I have to work soon. I’m just going to take a cab home!” I yell back without turning around or stopping.
I’m not surprised when, as I climb into the back of the first cab I can find, Callie grabs my wrist. Gone is the typical smirk and bright, curious brown eyes. She looks somber and her eyes are clouded with worry.
“What is going on with you?”
“Nothing. I’m just…” I sigh. “I’ll explain later. I promise, okay? I just need to get out of here.”
“Okay…” She relents even though I know she doesn’t want to. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” I give her a quick, uneasy smile and then slip into the back of the cab.
I’m exhausted, both emotionally and physically, but I’m looking forward to working tonight. It will keep me busy and maybe this pain in my chest will go away.