Chapter 56 Letting Go

Chapter 56 Letting Go
Mayzie woke up the next morning with that disorienting feeling of being in an unfamiliar room. Siohban had licked her face before she finally got out of bed to sneak back to her own room. Nursing a hangover brutal enough to take down a little pony, she spent the rest of the day sleeping. Downstairs, Dalton and the others left her in blissful peace... until lunchtime arrived, and she heard two men arguing outside her door about who had to carry her tray. She promised herself right then never to drink like that again when she was emotionally fragile.

The rest of the week flew by, leading up to their final morning. Most of her time had been spent lounging on the beach or trailing Dalton around the main islands. Ember and Clyde were always with them, mostly because Dalton refused to tolerate anyone else. He had brushed off Thelma and Arking with a few sharp words, and he hadn’t been much kinder to Blake and Bellatrix.

Surprisingly, Dalton had actually been bearable... even fun... when they went shopping in the local town. He even let Ember and Mayzie place ridiculous hats on his head. Though he kept his arms crossed and wore a practiced scowl, Mayzie could tell he was secretly amused.

She was also happy to learn that Clyde and Ember were officially dating. Ember announced she would be transferring to Ravenfield University after spring break. Even though joining a semester late came with a massive fee, Ember just shrugged it off, telling them not to worry about it. Mayzie didn't completely trust her yet, but the girl made Clyde happy. Pushing aside her doubts about how fast the relationship was moving, she decided to just let Clyde enjoy his happiness.

But just as everyone seemed to find their rhythm on the island, time ran out. Reality was waiting, and today was their last day. Tomorrow they would be on a plane, and she would have to go back home to Alonso; back to her real life, her problems, and all the heartbreak waiting for her. Even though the trip had its rough patches, the good moments outweighed them. To her surprise, most of those memories involved Dalton. He had been by her side the entire time, even abandoning the work he’d assigned her so she could just relax. Of course, if she tried to wander off, he would instantly call her back, claiming he needed his assistant nearby.

Everything had been going perfectly until she remembered, with a jolt of panic the night before, that she hadn't called Alonso once. Between the emotional chaos and her chores, it had completely slipped her mind. Sitting on the edge of her mattress, she picked up the bedside phone and dialed his number. It was early, so she knew he would be home.

"Hello?" Alonso answered, his voice thick with sleep.

"Hi, Alonso," Mayzie said, forcing a cheerful tone so she wouldn't sound guilty.

A heavy silence stretched over the line. "So, I finally get the honor of being remembered?"

She swallowed hard. "I'm so sorry, Alonso. I really am. It’s been a crazy week. Dalton has been working me to the bone," she lied. "And then everyone starts drinking at five, and by the time I crash, I’m exhausted. I’m really sorry."

Another long pause. "And I'm just supposed to accept that? I'm supposed to feel bad for you and accept that you couldn’t find two minutes to call me? That it was too much work to pick up a phone and say goodnight? Is that it?"

"No, I’m not asking you to just let it go. I'm just trying to apologize. You have every right to be mad, but I want you to know I didn't forget you. There’s just been so much going on that I—"

"Mayzie, stop. Just stop. I don't want your excuses, and I don't need you to make up stories to make me feel better."

"Alonso, please. I'll call you tonight, and again before I board the plane tomorrow. I promise, okay?" She ran a hand through her hair, stressed.

"And that’s supposed to fix it?"

"No. I know I messed up. I'll make it up to you when I get back, alright?"

He sighed deeply. "Don't bother. I guess this week taught me a lesson. It proved I’m not even on your radar. I think about you every day, Mayzie. I wonder what you're doing, if you're safe, if you're lonely, or if you and Bellatrix fixed things. When you didn't call, I actually worried something terrible would happen to you. I guess all that worrying was a waste of time, since you were just sitting on a beach drinking daiquiris."

"Alonso..."

"You didn't even give me a passing thought. You didn't care that I was sitting here waiting for the phone to ring, wondering if your plane even landed safely. I spent all week with no way to reach you. What a waste of energy. I gave you everything, and you couldn't give me a single moment."

"I am so sorry I made you worry. I'll make it up to you, I swear." She switched the phone to her other ear.

"Like I said, don't bother. I get it now. I was holding onto hope, but you stepped on that a long time ago."

Mayzie sniffled, realizing exactly where this conversation was heading. "Alonso, don't say that."

"I love you, Mayzie. I really do. But I love you enough to know that you don't feel the same way about me. I know that the tighter I hold onto you, the more you'll pull away. So, I'm letting go. You're free."

"Alonso..."

"I would rather be the guy with a broken heart who loves you from a distance than the guy keeping you in a cage."

"Alonso, just wait until I get home so we can talk. Please don't do this over the phone."

"I'm sorry, but if I wait to see you, I won't be strong enough to walk away. You'll convince me to stay, and I can't do that to myself anymore. I won't be at the house when you get back. Please don't come looking for me. Maybe down the road we can be friends, but it's going to take a long time. I love you too much to make you my prisoner, so I'm doing this for both of us. I'm saying the words you should have said a long time ago. Mayzie, we're done."

Alonso took a shaky breath and hung up. He looked across the room at his brother, Deklan, who was sitting up on the floor. Deklan's blanket was tangled around him, and his pillow had been kicked away. He had stayed the night to help Alonso pack up his things and move back to their parents' house. The room was crammed with cardboard boxes, leaving barely any floor space.

"Are you good?" Deklan asked quietly. "Not gonna break down on me, right?"

"I'm not going to cry," Alonso said, forcing a faint smile.

Deklan checked the clock. "It's six. Let's load the rest of this stuff up and get out of here. Might beat the traffic and get some breakfast."

Alonso nodded.

"Are we taking her car?"

"Yeah. I don't think she'll mind. Just don't scratch it."

Deklan nodded, standing up. "Gotta shower first. A man's got to look his best. We're going to the clubs tonight."

"You're underage."

"Pssh, what are you, my dad?"

Alonso watched his brother head into the bathroom, then lay back down on the mattress. Exhaling slowly, he threw his arm over his eyes, letting his sleeve catch the tears. Even though he had rehearsed those exact words a hundred times, he never thought he could actually say them without sobbing. He hadn't expected his voice to sound so cold and firm. But his mind was made up. There was no turning back.

When the shower from the bathroom stopped running, he wiped his face, grabbed his clothes, and got ready for the day. He wouldn't let his family see him break down. As long as he ignored the pain, he didn't have to face it.

· · ─────── · 𓅪 · ─────── · ·

Downstairs, Mayzie forced herself to push the breakup out of her mind. She realized she was actually more upset about Alonso leaving her life completely than she was about the relationship ending. But she couldn't deal with it right now. Burying her heavy emotions deep down, she braced herself for the festival.

Soon, the group was boarding the ferry. Mayzie laughed with Ember over inside jokes they had gathered throughout the week. Watching them, Bellatrix felt a pang of jealousy; Mayzie and Ember already seemed closer than she and Mayzie had ever been. Sensing her mood, Blake gently tugged on Bellatrix's shirt, redirecting her attention to Thelma.

When they stepped off the boat, the group walked toward the festival grounds together. Colorful stalls, game booths, and small shops had popped up seemingly overnight. Mayzie had no idea what holiday the islanders were celebrating, but excitement buzzed in her chest. This was what she had been waiting for all week. She loved fairs, and though this one was a bit different from the ones back home, it clearly catered to tourists.

Gradually, the group started to split up, leaving the usual four together. Dalton frowned when he noticed Clyde and Ember were still hovering.

"You two go have fun on your own," Dalton muttered.

Ember pouted. "But we have fun together. Why ruin it?"

"I said, go away," he snapped. He hated how this girl seemed completely unfazed by him. It had to be Mayzie's influence.

"But—" Ember started.

Clyde intervened before she could argue. "Let's go have some alone time, Ember. Fairs are better for couples anyway."

She sighed, giving Mayzie an apologetic look. "I guess our eating contest will have to wait."

Mayzie giggled. "Next time. Ravenfield University hosts festivals all the time, we'll do it there."

"Bye!" Ember waved as Clyde pulled her into the crowd.

Mayzie turned and glared at Dalton. "What is your problem?"

"I hate fairs," he mumbled. "I reserved a private table at the restaurant. We're spending the evening there."

She gasped in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? I’ve been waiting for this all week! I am not leaving when we just got here. You should have gone to the restaurant by yourself and left me with Ember and Clyde."

Dalton's expression remained blank. "Restaurant."

"Fair," Mayzie shot back.

Reaching down, he grabbed her wrist and started pulling her toward the venue. Mayzie offered a weak resistance, though secretly she wished he would just let go. He kept a firm grip on her hand as they entered the establishment, where a waiter immediately guided them straight through the busy kitchen. She looked around in confusion as they walked past the line of chefs and out a back door, leading to an intimate table set up on a secluded dock.

"What is this?" she asked, her anger melting into curiosity.

"The small island over there," Dalton said, pointing over the water, "sets off fireworks on the first night of the festival. This is the best view around. Plus, we get to eat at my favorite spot again." He took his seat.

Mayzie crossed her arms, still annoyed. "You could have just told me that instead of lying about hating fairs."

"I don't have to explain my choices to you. Sit down. Dinner will be served shortly."

"But we didn't even order," she said, pulling out the chair opposite him.

"I ordered ahead of time. Don't worry, you'll like it."

"Oh, I'll like it, will I?" she challenged. "Stop telling me what I like. I hate seafood, just so you know. It better not be seafood."

"It's not seafood."

Mayzie leaned back, keeping her arms crossed. "I hate mushrooms and sardines, too."

"Sardines are seafood, Mayzie. I think they count." He checked his watch, glancing toward the dark horizon.

"I know they're seafood. I just wasn't sure if you knew."

"Why wouldn't I?" He was entirely calm, which only made her more frustrated. "I'm not an uncultured moron who doesn't know what marjoram or moussaka are."

She narrowed her eyes. "Those aren't exactly everyday foods."

"One is a herb. Have you forgotten already? They're common to me. But like I said, you only know things that come out of a drive-thru window."

Mayzie clenched her fists. "You are really testing my patience today. I want to be at the festival, not sitting here waiting for fireworks."

Dalton studied her face for a moment. "You seem more tense than usual. Did something happen?"

"What? No."

He kept his eyes on her. "You're upset. Are you trying to use the festival to distract yourself?"

"No!" she snapped. "I am perfectly fine! You've just dragged me around all week, and now you're taking away the one thing I was actually looking forward to."

Dalton tilted his head. "We can go back to the fairgrounds after this."

The tension left her shoulders. "But you said you hated fairs."

"And you clearly hate dinner and fireworks," he countered smoothly. "So, you tolerate this, and I'll tolerate that."

Right then, a loud screech tore through the air, followed by a booming echo. A sudden flash of light washed over the dock. Mayzie looked up just as a massive, brilliant floral pattern of color exploded across the night sky. Instantly forgetting her anger, she stood up and walked to the edge of the wooden dock, completely captivated.