Chapter 56
EDEN
“Surprise!”
I yelp as I walk into my apartment and see Kayla, Cruz, and a dozen Dream Guys crowding around my living room, beaming at me. Streamers and balloons are all over the place, even on the piles of boxes I’ve been packing up over the last few days.
Kayla darts to me, pulling me into a hug. “So? Were you surprised?”
“Of course I was surprised. Even though I totally knew it was coming.”
Kayla giggles, then releases me. Everyone makes their way over and hugs me while telling me how happy they are for me.
“Eden, you superstar. You’re gonna kick ass in Portugal,” Gavin’s six-foot-three frame nearly swallows me whole as he bear hugs me.
“Aww Gavin, you’re the best cheerleader. I’m gonna miss your wildly optimistic attitude and labradoodle energy.”
He bellows out a laugh right as Jamie comes up. His normally stoic face has softened the slightest bit. The corner of his mouth quirks up into the softest half-smile. “Good luck, Eden. We’re gonna miss the hell out of you.”
Ian and Paul murmur yeses behind him as he hugs me.
“Come on, guys,” I say, my voice muffled as I’m pressed against Jamie’s massive sculpted shoulder, my eyes teary. “You’re gonna make me cry.”
“You’d better come back and visit us,” Ian says when he hugs me. “Who’s going to eat all the extra pirouline cookies I bake and bring to our Dream Guy staff meetings?”
I let out a snotty chuckle. “I’m nominating Gavin.”
“Ha. No way. My body’s a temple and can’t stand all that butter and sugar. No offense, dude.”
Ian laughs. “None taken.”
There’s a knock at the door. When I answer it, I still. There are my parents, standing in the doorway.
“I invited them,” I hear Cruz say softly behind me. “Hope that was okay.”
I spin around to him.
His brown eyes go soft. “It’s just that you’re leaving, Eden. I don’t want the last time you all see each other to have been an argument.”
“He’s right, anak.”
“Yes, honey. We have a lot to apologize for before you leave.”
I spin around, stunned at what my parents have said. I motion for them to follow me to my bedroom, so that we can have a quiet moment away from the drinking and partying.
When the three of us are inside, I shut the door. I notice my mom is taking in the nearly empty space. All that’s left is my bed and my suitcases.
“I can’t believe you’re going to leave,” Mom says, her tone bewildered. I start to speak, but she stops me with a gentle hand on my arm. “Wait, anak. Let us go first, okay? We’re so sorry for what we said to you that night at our anniversary party. We were out of line.”
Dad nods. “We realize now that we were wrong to put those expectations on you, honey. We’re so sorry.” He sighs, his shoulders hunching forward. “When Cruz told us you were moving for your business, we were devastated.”
I can feel the muscles in my midsection tensing in preparation for whatever cutting thing they’re about to say about my job.
“We were devastated at the thought you were moving away and that we’d never see you again. We made it so that you dreaded talking to us and being with us. Because we were judgmental of you,” Dad says quickly, as if he can read my mind and wants to clear up what I’m assuming.
“We were wrong, anak. And we realized that all those things we fixated on—college degrees, status, money, all that—none of that matters if you’re unhappy, if you resent us. All we want is for you to be happy. And to have a good relationship with you.”
“You’re doing what you love?” Dad asks.
I manage to nod, despite how blown away I am. “Yes. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
He smiles. Mom smiles too, her eyes teary. “Then that’s all that matters. We love you.”
“We’re so proud of you,” Dad says as he pulls me into a hug. Mom joins in too.
“And hey, your brother showed me all the coverage your app has been getting lately. And that you’ve partnered with a member of the Greer-Adamson family. I’m impressed, honey,” Dad says. “You’re quite the savvy businesswoman, and I can tell you’re going to make it big. But that’s not what matters,” he adds quickly. “I know that now.”
I smile. “Thank you, Dad. And Mom. I love you both.”
“We love you. And we’re going to miss you so much.”
I assure them I’ll be back to visit and that they can visit me in Portugal whenever they want.
“We absolutely will, anak.”
When we walk out of the room, I head into the kitchen where Cruz is mixing a pitcher of sangria. He sets aside a can of club soda.
“For Gavin?” I ask.
“Of course it’s for Gavin.”
We chuckle.
“Hey. Thanks for talking to Mom and Dad. And for inviting them. I feel a million times better about leaving now that we’re good.”
“All part of being a big brother.” He gently shoves my shoulder. “Gotta say, I’m sad to see you go, sis.”
“I know.”
“But I also couldn’t be happier for you. You’re following your dream. I’m proud of you.”
I smile at him. “Thanks, Cruz.”
“Tomorrow’s the big day. You have a ride to the airport?”
“Yes. Kayla’s taking me.”
“You all packed?”
“Yup.”
“You have your boarding pass and your ID and you’re checked in?”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Cruz. I’ve flown on my own before, remember? Lots of times.”
“You’re my kid sister. I can’t help it.” He musses my hair. I jokingly shove his hand away.
“You said goodbye to everyone you care about, right?”
His words hit like a punch to the gut.
Danny.
He’s the one person I won’t be able to say goodbye to.
I nod my head anyway. I don’t miss the knowing look in my brother’s eye. “You sure?”
I nod again, despite the ache in my chest, the burn in my gut. Someone in the living room hollers for more sangria, and Cruz leaves with the pitcher. I pull my phone out and stare at the digital boarding pass I saved to my phone.
I’d give anything for things between Danny and me to be good again, for us to go to Portugal together…
I press my eyes shut, but it’s impossible to ignore the voice in my head. I down a shot from a nearby liquor bottle and focus on the laughter and chatter in the other room. Now’s not the time to wallow. Everyone I care about is here. I walk out into the living room and take in the sight of my family and my friends. How lucky I am to be so loved. The thought of Danny rests like an undercurrent of sadness beneath my joy.
Just focus on the joy.
For the rest of the night, I do exactly that.