Chapter 7
He drives us to the mechanic shop, and I can’t help but feel sweaty and anxious the whole way. I don’t want this to be the end. Not at all. I don’t want this to be goodbye.
The mood sobers up pretty quickly during the drive which, sadly, is extremely short. When we arrive at the mechanic’s shop, Redwood hops out and does one of those bro shakes with a shorter Hispanic man. Redwood waves me out of the car, and hesitantly, I walk toward them.
“Vinny, this is Thumbelina. Thumbelina this is Vinny.” I laugh at that, at the idea of our pseudonyms being actual names, but decide to go along with it.
“Uh, okay cool,” Vinny says awkwardly, his brows pinched. “Hey, girl. Your car is ready. It was a quick fix and my locksmith hooked you up with a new key and fob. You’re all set.” Vinny hands me the new keys, gesturing to my car sitting the parking lot.
My heart drops as the events of today come crashing back in.
“Oh shit, I just realized my wallet was stolen,” I rush out, trying to shove the keys back at Vinny while I figure out how to handle this with no phone to call for help. I guess I could call my parents, but then they’d know where I was this morning and what ha—
“Don’t worry about it, beautiful. Vinny owed me a favor,” Redwood says, pulling me out of my panicked spiral. He slaps Vinny on the shoulder in thanks, accepts the offered keys back, and places them in my shaky hand.
“Nice to meet you, Thumbelina. Enjoy your ride,” Vinny says with a small wave as he walks back into the garage. I want to thank him, smile, say something kind, but I can’t. I can’t think about anything else but…
This is it. I wipe my sweaty palms down my yoga pants, never taking my eyes off my feet. I can’t look up at him. I’m too afraid he’ll see the emotions swirling in my eyes at the thought of losing him.
Losing him? He isn’t yours to lose, Ella.
Before I can say anything stupid, like beg him to change his mind, he places two fingers under my chin and guides my face up to look up at him.
With a serious expression and a quiet voice, he says, “You saved my life today, Thumbelina, and I mean that. I’m not going to waste the gift you gave me today.
I fucking saved your life, too, so you owe me.
Don’t you dare give up before you’ve had a chance to finish that long-ass list. It’s going to take you years to finish, and I know that by the time you do, your life will be so full of joy, you won’t see your past anymore.
There will be no more darkness. Fill it with fucking sunshine. Promise me,” he demands.
I swallow through the huge lump in my throat and jerk a shaky nod, his fingers still grasping my chin. “I promise,” I whisper.
Try as I might, I can’t fight the tear that escapes the side of my eye. He reaches his free hand up to wipe it away, as if he was meant to.
Meant to.
“I don’t want to do this, but I have to walk away,” he grits out.
“I have to because it’s what’s best for our futures.
The universe brought us together today, and it will bring us together again if it’s meant to be.
When the timing is right, we’ll be back.
Do you believe me?” he asks quietly, searching my eyes for my answer.
Do I? I want to.
God, do I want to believe that.
Future.
Joy.
Sunshine.
I trust you.
“Yes, but I don’t want to meet on another bridge,” I sigh with a small, forced smile.
Kiss me, please.
He stares into my eyes and gives me a huge smile, one just for me, and pulls me into a hug.
We hold onto each other for what feels like forever, just like on the bridge, neither of us wanting to let go.
Finally, after what could be hours, or maybe just minutes, he releases a heavy breath.
I feel his lips on the crown of my head for a long, hard kiss. My eyes burn. This is it.
“Take care of yourself, Thumbelina. Thank you for making the worst day of my life the best,” he murmurs into my hair. With one last squeeze, he releases me, takes a step back, and walks away, leaving me with…
Everything.