Until my Last Breath

75

Ibiza, Spain

The sun had mellowed into a soft blaze now, its golden touch dancing over the Mediterranean. The girls and I were lounging beneath wide-brimmed umbrellas, fruity cocktails in hand, laughter rolling lazily between us like waves.

And for a moment-just a brief flicker of time-I'd managed to forget the knot in my chest.

Until the sound of someone boarding the yacht pulled every pair of sunglasses-covered eyes toward the dock.

"Oh, look who's here," one of the girls muttered, lips curling around her straw with mischief.
"Of course she'd show up," another grinned, nudging the girl beside her.

I turned my head slowly, my curiosity piqued despite myself.

She had a golden bikini, big round glasses on, a bag slung over her shoulder like she owned the sea itself, and the confidence of someone who didn't walk-she arrived.

Model-gorgeous.
And everyone here clearly knew her.

I didn't ask. Not at first. Not my concern. I just sipped my drink and watched as she made her way through the boat, greeting people with kisses to cheeks and tight hugs.

Until she reached the boys.

Until she reached my boy.

The way her arms wrapped around Pablo was too familiar.
Too long.
Too... something.

And my gut twisted.

"Who's that?" I asked finally, too quickly, too sharply.

Lucía, one of the girls, leaned toward me with a knowing smirk. "Oh, that's Rebecca."
Another one chimed in, "She used to live in the neighborhood. Everyone knew her. She was the troublemaker ."
"Still is," someone else muttered, giggling.

"Reckless. The life of every party. Her and Gavi? They used to be double trouble growing up. Always sneaking off, getting into fights, climbing rooftops."

My brows knit slowly. "They were close?"

"Close?" One of the girls snorted. "Girl, they were each other's firsts."

The glass nearly slipped out of my hand.

Firsts.
Firsts.

Great.

I blinked, staring at Rebecca now with a new lens. The way she laughed at something he said, touching his chest like it was still hers. The way he didn't pull away.

Of course he didn't.
He didn't have to.

They had history.
A whole chapter before I'd even come into the picture.

And now, with just one flawless entrance, she'd flipped every dormant insecurity inside me like a match to dry leaves.

I swallowed the heat in my throat and tried to look away.
But it was already too late.

The image of them together had already burned into my mind.
And suddenly, the silence from last night didn't feel so distant anymore.

-
The sun moved across the sky like time was taunting me.

Each hour that passed on the boat chipped at me with dull little cuts - silent glances, distant smiles that didn't reach our eyes. We hadn't said a word to each other since morning. Not one.

But I felt him.

Everywhere.

I caught his eyes once, and he looked away.
Caught them again a little later, and this time, I did.