Page 72 of Your Love

I take a small bite of juicy pineapple before answering. “I talked to Taz last night. He told me your plans and suggested that I should stay here and gather my thoughts for a few days.”

“Did he now?” he says with a shake of his head. “Now that’s interesting because I, too, spoke to our friend Michael Tazman last night, and he advised me that I should probably just stay here after Lauren left and take a few days to get my thoughts together.”

My eyes go wide, and my mouth drops open in disbelief. I lean forward, setting down my fork with a clatter. “Are you kidding me? That sly little matchmaker.”

A wry smile plays on his lips as he takes a sip of his drink. “Do you ever consider or wonder how much of our lives have been orchestrated by Taz behind the scenes?” he muses.

I shudder at the thought but can’t help but wonder. “I try not to think about it,” I admit, “but I’m sure it’s more than we realize.”

I speak gently. “This is your place to be right now,” I say, gesturing to the space around us. “I flew in like a comet and turned your world upside down. It’s only fair that I give you some space to sort things out on your own.”

“What about your future?” he asks.

“Oh, Lord. My future? I have no idea. I mean, I know I’m going to finish school and become a vet. That part of my life is figured out, but I don’t know what’s going to happen after that.”

“I was thinking about it last night, and there’s kind of a beauty in the unknown,” he says. “Things have sort of been planned out for me, and the thought of taking charge of my own life is starting to sound pretty good again,” he says.

“I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel that you’re looking towards the future with a sense of optimism. It makes it easier for me to know that I haven’t ruined your life again.”

“You never ruined my life, Wildflower. You just have a way of keeping me on my toes.”

The corners of my lips lift into a small smile at his words, and I feel a sense of warmth spread through my chest. “That nickname,” I say, trying to hide the trembling in my voice. “It always has a way of making me feel things. I didn’t think I’d ever hear it again.”

Landry nods knowingly and gestures toward my untouched juice. “Why don’t you finish your juice, and then we can take a walk on the beach,” he suggests.

A hesitant frown creases my brow as I look up at him. “Are you sure?” I ask, uncertainty coating his words.

“For the first time in a long time,” he says, “I think we should hang out with no distractions.”

It’s been so long since we’ve had a chance to really connect without any distractions pulling us away. This could be what we both need.

Chapter 33

“Iris”

Landry - Age 23, 1993

Kerri guides me down the sandy beach, pointing out various spots along the way.

“So that shrub right there is where I was hiding right before the ceremony started,” she points out. She decided to give me a tour of her greatest hits from yesterday, and so far, it’s been very entertaining.

“And right there is where I was crouched down, trying to muster up the courage to go talk to you,” she says, gesturing towards a specific spot on the beach. “And that’s where you were standing, but you probably remember that part,” she says with a sheepish smile. “Oh, and down there—see that log—that’s where I tripped and ate shit as I ran away from the wedding I tried to end,” she recounts with a self-deprecating laugh.

Despite my best efforts, a chuckle escapes my lips at her confession. Unbothered, she continues her tour.

“Right there in the sand and the surf is where I cried after I fell. The salty ocean washed away my tears and carried my blood out to sea. I’m sure it enticed a million sharks, who I would have gladly been eaten by at that point in time.”

Her finger points towards the grand hotel, its towering structure looming behind us. “And that’s the path I took, limping like a crazy person to get back into the hotel.”

I’ve given up trying not to laugh at this point. Her recollection of events, while unpredictable and chaotic, is still endearing.

Since yesterday, I’ve been trying to process everything that happened. And while I should be angry with her for her recklessness, I can’t bring myself to feel anything but relief. In fact, I’m ashamed that I allowed things to go as far as they did with Lauren because deep down, I knew it wasn’t right.

Despite everything, I can’t stay mad at Kerri because, in my heart, I know that her actions came from a place of love and protection for me. She may have made mistakes, but her intentions were pure.

A sudden thought pierces my mind like a bolt of lightning, and I can’t believe it didn’t come to me sooner. “How did you even find out about my wedding? Did Taz tell you?” I ask. When shit goes bad, he’s usually involved, so it’s a safe assumption.

Kerri chews on her lower lip anxiously before releasing a long, slow breath. “If I tell you, you have to promise not to be upset,” she says hesitantly.