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we were both sixteen and it felt so right
Since there was no challenge today, Bridgette spent the entire afternoon with Geoff. Armed with nothing but paddleboards and sunglasses, they’d spent hours on the water, talking, laughing, and exploring. Now the sun was setting and they were beached on the shores of Boney Island.
Under normal circumstances, Bridgette would be freaking out. Chris never shut up about the evils lurking on the island. Plus, she didn’t want a repeat of the quicksand incident that had happened a few weeks earlier.
But right now, with the setting sun glinting on the waves and the wet sand clinging to her skin, Bridgette had never felt more relaxed. She and Geoff were alone on Boney Island. Not even Heather could catch them out here. How romantic was that?
A breeze rippled through her ponytail. Bridgette smiled at Geoff and asked him another question. “What’s your biggest hope for the future?”
“Woah, that’s pretty deep.” Geoff flicked the brim of his hat. “I gotta think on that.”
Bridgette let him think. His skin was gold, his hair was gold, his eyes were gold. Everything was gold, sinking into shadow.
“My biggest hope,” Geoff finally said, “is that I can bring happiness to as many people as possible.”
“Really?” Bridgette inched closer. That sure was a lofty goal for a sixteen-year-old guy. Her bros back home mostly wanted to make money or set records for extreme cliff-diving.
“Duh!” Geoff smiled like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Happiness is the best. When I’m hanging out with the guys or getting into the zone on the field, it’s like… like that’s the point of living.”
Bridgette hummed in agreement. There was nothing better than getting swept up in a good conversation or a killer wave.
“My parents run this pizza joint on the pier, right?” Geoff continued. “New people come through the doors all the time, and I think they try to make a good impact on every single person. Like, we met this guy from Sacramento, high school dropout. Mom and Dad let him bum on the couch for a few weeks and the next thing you know he’s applying to university ‘cause he wants to be a music teacher.”
“That’s so great,” Bridgette gushed. Of course it made sense that Geoff’s parents were just as wonderful as he was. “That reminds me of the mission trips I used to do with my mom. We went abroad to meet new people, but you got to invite them into your home! It gives you a new perspective on the world, right?”
“Totally,” Geoff agreed. “Guy taught me how to roller skate!”
Bridgette laughed. “You could try to teach me! I’d definitely trip over the laces in the first two minutes, though.”
“No way!” Geoff nudged her shoulder. “If you can surf, you can roller skate! Pinkie promise!”
Bridgette beamed at him. The twilight shadows were growing longer, but she’d never felt so bright. They hadn’t kissed yet, but she could feel it coming.
Let tonight be the night, she prayed.
we would walk on the beach in our bare feet (nineteen)
“Pass the green beans?” Bridgette asked, and Geoff obliged. She took the bowl and thanked him with a smile.
“These green beans are rockin’, Mrs. S,” Geoff said to Bridgette’s mom, who had cooked the aforementioned green beans.
“Thank you, Geoff,” her mom answered. “I’m glad someone appreciates them.”
This last remark was a teasing jab at Bridgette’s younger sister Bradley, who had piled her plate with nothing but buttered bread and a single apple. Bradley rolled her eyes and said, “You made this bread too, Mom. I’m still complimenting you.”
“True that, dudette,” Geoff said.
Bridgette watched him and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for her boyfriend. The holidays were already so fun, but Geoff visiting for the entire break was the icing on the cake.
“Any thoughts on what you want to do after college?” her mom asked Geoff as she cut her meat.
“Y’know I did want to get into Hollywood at first,” Geoff said, waving his fork for emphasis. “That’s why I picked the media major, right? That, and I thought it would be cool to direct my own movie. But there are way too many phonies in Hollywood, brah. So I’m thinking tourism now. Nothing is fake about tourism.”
Bridgette smiled as she chewed on her beans. Typical Geoff; only he would believe the tourism industry was so sincere.
“Your parents work at a restaurant, right?” That was Bridgette’s mom: she had the memory of an elephant. “So you’d be following in their footsteps?”
“Something like that!” Geoff agreed. “Or I could start my own store! That would be sick. I could sell those light-up keychains with people’s names on them. Put my party skills to good use.”
“It’s a really great idea, babe,” Bridgette said. She had to support him, even though she harbored some teeny tiny doubts about Geoff’s aspirations.
“That works out perfectly.” Her mom clasped her hands together, delighted. “Bridgette will be out on the beach researching the wildlife, and you’ll be out on the beach entertaining the town! Goodness gracious, you two will be shaking sand out of your clothes for the rest of your life.
“My two great loves!” Geoff thumped a hand on his chest like he was performing a Shakespearean soliloquy. “Bridgette and sand.”
Bridgette’s family laughed. Bridgette did, too, but her smile didn’t meet her eyes. Had Geoff always been so… unserious? Putting his party skills to use? What about the business degree he was working towards? She had a mountain of marine bio homework waiting for her upstairs, but all Geoff needed to do to succeed in life was pick up extra ships at the family restaurant.
Restaurants require hard work, she reminded herself as she returned to her meal, the food over which her mother had labored for the past few hours. They were important to any local community. Plus, she’d met Geoff’s parents a few times already, and they were happy with their lives.
So why did Geoff’s dreams suddenly seem a little small?
we were both eighteen and it felt so right
“The producers told me this place was cheap,” Bridgette said, looking out over the hotel’s waterfront.
“In Hawaii, cheap still gets you some pretty fancy stuff,” Geoff answered. “Sucks we don’t get waited on hand and foot, though. I could go for a masseuse right now.”
“Boy, quit complaining!” Leshawna hollered from her lounge chair. “This beats Siberia or Ontario or Egypt any day of the week.”
Tomorrow they’d be filming the World Tour finale. Until then, everyone was left to their own devices. Bridgette and Geoff had elected to hang out with their other friends. After weeks with only Bruno the bear for company, it was all Bridgette could do not to throw herself at Geoff. Instead, she was draped across her boyfriend’s lap, one arm curled around his shoulder as they shared a bowl of assorted fruits.
Lindsay and Leshawna were sitting with them, too. Lindsay was painting her nails while Leshawna nursed a virgin piña colada. Behind them, DJ and Beth were locked in a ping-pong competition. The only other person outside was Courtney, and the earbuds wedged into her ears sent a clear message: Do Not Disturb.
“Not gonna lie,” Geoff said, “I love hosting the Aftermath, but it still would’ve been cool to travel the world.”
“It was so fun,” Lindsay agreed. “I bought this nail polish in Paris!”
Bridgette smiled wistfully. Paris lacked beaches, sure, but it still would’ve been a wonderful experience.
She held up an orange slice and offered it to Geoff.
“Thanks, babe.” Geoff popped it into his mouth and then offered her one in exchange.
“Where would you want to go first?” Bridgette asked Geoff.
“Wherever you want to go first,” Geoff answered. “‘Cause you’ll probably pick somewhere with epic beaches.”
That got a laugh out of everyone, Leshawna and Lindsay included.
“I think I’d go to Greece,” Bridgette decided. “Healthy food, pretty buildings, and hundreds of beachy little islands.”
“See? You have a great taste in countries, babe.” Geoff ran a hand across her shoulders, and Bridgette happily leaned into the touch. It was good to be back with him.
“You guys are the real deal,” Leshawna said, twirling around the umbrella in her mocktail. “Promise me y’all won’t ever break up.”
“Never,” Bridgette promised.
“Never ever!” Geoff added.
Bridgette laughed again. Their relationship had weathered that drama with Alejandro, Geoff’s Captain Hollywood phase, and Blaineley’s ridiculous kidnapping schemes. If they could handle that, they could handle anything.
we could leave this town and run forever (twenty-two)
Geoff blustered into Bridgette’s bedroom like a pink tornado.
“You haven’t opened it yet?” he yelled.
Bridgette gestured him over to her laptop. “I wanted to wait until you got here!”
“I’m here now, babe! Open it!” Geoff knelt beside her and slung one arm over her shoulders.
There was a part of her that wished she had a little more space right now, Bridgette waved away that concern. This email was more important. She took a slow, measured breath. Once she had steadied herself, Bridgette began to read.
Immediately, she stood so quickly that she knocked her chair over. “I got in! Oh my gosh, Geoff! I got in !”
“Woo hoo!” Geoff swept her into a bear hug. “That’s my Bridge! You’re amazing!”
It was impossible to wipe the grin off her face. Her future was unfolding before her like the open ocean. In a few months, she’d be done with undergrad, and now she would officially be pursuing a master’s degree in marine biology in New Zealand. After that? The whole world would be her oyster.
“I can’t believe it!” Bridgette laughed as Geoff kissed her cheek. “I mean, I can, but wow! It’s so real now! I get to go to New Zealand!”
“You’re gonna rock it with those kiwis, babe,” Geoff said. “Make sure to get a Maori face tattoo, okay?”
“Okay?” Although nothing could dampen her spirits, confusion wormed its way into Bridgette’s voice. She’d just gotten into her dream school. How were face tattoos relevant?
“We have to celebrate!” Geoff said. “How ‘bout I order us a pizza?”
And then her indomitable smile slipped a bit. “Pizza?”
“Yeah!” Geoff babbled. “Like, with anchovies and peppers, just the way you like it.”
“I think we can do a little better than just pizza,” Bridgette said.
She was still thinking about that twenty minutes later. After changing into more put-together clothes, they were now en route to Bridgette’s favorite Ethiopian restaurant. It was definitely more upscale than pizza, and definitely a more fitting celebration for this milestone.
But seriously. Pizza? Geoff’s gut reaction was to call for a ten-dollar anchovy pizza that would arrive in the next fifteen minutes. Couldn’t he aim a little higher?
Bridgette glanced at him. He sat in the driver’s seat, chattering excitedly about New Zealand. They hadn’t even talked about the long-distance thing yet. Unless Geoff planned to move to New Zealand to be with her. But how feasible was that for someone whose main life goal was to run his parents’ tourist restaurant?
Bridgette told herself to shake off the bad vibes.
Geoff loves you, she reminded herself. Look how happy he is. That counts for something.
you were begging me, not tonight
not here, not now
There was a knot in Bridgette’s throat and she couldn’t find the words to undo it.
“Geoff.” She dug her toes into the sand and willed herself to be strong, even though she wanted to throw up. “I think this is it for us. I think we should break up.”
Her voice broke on up, and Bridgette turned away just as tears sprang to her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t real life. She’d already spent the past few days crying into her pillow, but even that hadn’t prepared her for the whirlpool of emotion that was sucking her in, drowning her.
“What? But we’re supposed to be together forever.” Geoff sounded so lost, so much like an abandoned puppy. Bridgette blinked back tears and covered her mouth. She’d done that to him.
“We were gonna get married! I mean, it’s not like I bought a ring yet or anything, but we’ve talked about it so much I just thought…”
Look at him. He deserves that much. But when Bridgette forced herself to look, she immediately realized she should not have started this conversation on a beach. It was too much. Every memory with him, every last sunset was superimposed over this one.
“I thought so, too.” Bridgette sniffled. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She was crying in earnest now. Geoff looked just as horrified, just as confused, just as blindsided as she’d imagined.
“I don’t get it. Don’t do this, Bridge. We can fix whatever’s wrong, I promise.”
He moved to touch her, but Bridgette stepped back before his fingers could burn against her skin.
“We just have different—” Bridgette wiped her nose on her hoodie sleeve. “Different goals for the future.”
“Surfing and pizza and raising a bunch of cute kids and helping the world!” Geoff’s voice rose in desperation. “That’s what we both want, Bridgette!”
It wasn’t as simple as that, and she knew it in her gut. “You—you’re going to change so many people’s lives by staying in one place.” She hiccuped. “I need to travel. It doesn’t really work. And we’re going to resent each other.”
“But—” Geoff’s voice broke too. “But I can just follow. I’d go to New Zealand with you. What’s that thing they said at church? Where you go, I go. Where you surf, I can surf.”
His bungled Bible passage sent a fresh wave of hysteria through Bridgette. Maybe Geoff was willing to go the distance, but she wasn’t. And she was going to break his heart to follow hers.
“It’s not gonna work,” she said through heaving sobs. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She repeated that over and over, and when she finally looked up again, Geoff was crying, too.
“Take it back, Bridge. Break up with me in the morning but not now.” He rubbed the tears away, but in the glow of the sunset, his face was still raw and red. “Not now.”
Bridgette sunk into the sand and buried her face in her lap. Geoff did the same, and they cried and begged and pleaded and apologized until the sun disappeared beneath the horizon.
Everything was indigo. The embers of Bridgette’s despair dwindled into something more numb. Geoff had fallen silent, too. He was sifting sand through his fingers. Bridgette could only imagine what was going through his mind right now. He’d have to find someone else. Someone who laughed at all his jokes and appreciated his good humor, even when it was sometimes naïve. Someone who didn’t care when he ate the last vegan brownie in the pan. Someone who wanted to settle down on the beach instead of trying her hand at a more nomadic life.
Geoff was still a good person, but Bridgette just—she just couldn’t.
She didn’t want to go, would rather cut out her own heart than abandon him here, but someone had to leave first. So Bridgette stood and whispered again, “I’m so sorry.”
It was over.
let your waves crash down on me and take me away
“My first time in Hawaii and I’m only here for this ridiculous reality show.” Bridgette sighed and kicked at the sand.
The sunrise was slowly turning the beach pink. Their flights to Ontario were departing in six hours, which meant in exactly forty-seven minutes, Chef would be up in arms, screaming at everyone to get their butts out the door.
For now, however, Bridgette and Geoff were free to spend one final hour together on the beach. She wore an oversized t-shirt—one of Geoff’s she’d stolen months ago, recycled into a pajama shirt—while Geoff wore none at all. He wrapped one arm around Bridgette’s waist, pulling her close, and even through the t-shirt Bridgette’s skin was electrified by the touch.
“Don’t worry, babe,” he said. “We’ll come back eventually. For our honeymoon.”
“Our honeymoon, you say? You certain about that, buster?” Bridgette giggled and leaned into him like she didn’t have a care in the world. And in this limbo between real life and fantasy, she truly didn’t have a care in the world.
“One hundred percent,” Geoff said. “It’ll be a big weekend event. Saturday morning, we have the first ceremony at your church. Saturday night, first afterparty. Sunday morning, we have a second ceremony at my synagogue. Sunday night, second afterparty. Then we fly out here and spend a month livin’ large, just you and me.”
He spoke with such confidence that Bridgette wondered how long he’d been planning this out. Considering the fact that she was already arranging bouquets in her mind, that was a good thing.
“I like the sound of that! We’ll have hibiscus decorations, and all the guests are required to wear beach casual.”
“Now you’re talking!” Geoff agreed. “I’m thinking seafood for dinner. Oysters are a must.”
“I love oysters!” Bridgette said. Geoff knew that already because he’d witnessed her recent morality crisis over whether or not oysters violated her vegetarian lifestyle. He was so great for remembering that.
They paused their walk to watch the sun pass through a wispy cloud. The conversation didn’t stop, though. They talked and talked about the rest of their lives. Bridgette picked out names for their three kids, while Geoff picked out names for their two dogs and five surfboards.
As they talked, the sun grew brighter. In a few minutes, they’d have to cut their conversation short and head back to the hotel. They’d have to listen to Chef’s screaming, Courtney’s grumbling, and Heather’s moping. By the end of the day, they’d return to their normal lives in Canada. Bridgette didn’t mind. They had the rest of their lives to figure everything out.