AN: A lot of you are making assumptions about Garrett and why he left Bella. Those are all fair, but for those of you that have read my other stories, you know I don't go for the "ordinary". Except this time. This story is based on a true story about a woman from Wales, named Kayley Stead. If you haven't seen her viral videos or heard about her story, you should look her up. She's brave and I admire her.

Bella

"How on earth did I fit all this in before?" I'm muttering to myself, trying to fit all my clothes and shoes into my suitcase when my phone dings from the mattress next to me.

Jessica: I know you're probably trying to pack, but Carmen wants to make sure that we're still all having dinner tonight before you leave tomorrow?

I smile at the text. Carmen is devastated that I'm leaving before her and her family, even if we've already told her that we'll be seeing each other plenty when we all get back home. I shoot off a response to Jess, letting her know that I'll meet them at the restaurant later.

By the time I've managed to get everything fit back into my bag, clothes picked out for my plane trip tomorrow, and my toiletries arranged, I'm sitting on my terrace, catching up on my social media and emails.

People are definitely talking; the girls warned me they were. But it seems like everyone is on my side, which honestly doesn't feel great; it doesn't feel like a win. Because I still don't really know Garrett's reasoning other than he "couldn't do it"; it doesn't feel fair to see our mutual friends and acquaintances disparage him so severely.

I set my phone down when I can't look at the posts anymore. I don't want to read the emails from various news outlets that want an interview or even from a nationally syndicated morning show that wants to have me on. When I get back, I'll respond to the emails with a simple "no, thank you". I'll make a neutral but semi-informative post to my close friends and family about the situation and leave it at that.

I'm enjoying the sun on my skin when my phone starts buzzing and dancing along the glass tabletop. I'm sure it's Lauren or Rose or even my parents when I lazily reach for it. It isn't until my eyes focus and I see Garrett's name flashing across the screen that I freeze in panic.

My phone is still vibrating in my hand, and I swipe across the screen before it's too late. I bring it up to my ear and let out a shaky breath. "Hello?"

"Hey, Bella." He doesn't sound devastated, but he also doesn't sound great. That's something. I don't respond mostly because I can't comprehend that he's finally calling me. "Bella, are you there?"

"I'm here." Whispering, I clear my throat, trying to buy myself some time like an FBI agent in a thriller while the bad guy is being tracked on the line. "What happened, Garrett? And don't tell me you couldn't do it; I want the truth."

There's a long pause, but the call hasn't dropped.

"I know you lied to your parents about the wedding money. What else have you been lying about? Is there someone else?" I brace myself for his response.

"Jesus, no." He sucks in a breath. "I didn't lie to my parents about the money. My dad's a dick, and he … he was giving me a hard time because I don't earn as much as you and—"

"Don't tell me that this is some misogynist turn about me not wanting to be a stay-at-home trophy wife!" Seething, I stand to pace on my terrace.

"Bella, no. My dad has kept my mother on a proverbial leash for years, and it's disgusting. I just wanted him to let off on me for once." Garrett sighs. "I'm sorry about that. And I'm sorry I didn't talk to you before, before—"

I cut him off with a snort. "Before you left me at the altar? Before then? Like, any time?"

The only thing I can think of is that scene from The Wedding Singer when Linda comes to see Robbie after their missed wedding day, and he screams at her for abandoning him.

"I never should have proposed." I wait for the other shoe to drop; this is the closure I've been craving, waiting for. "I do love you, Bella, but not enough and not in the way that warrants marriage and commitment. And I can picture you right now, rolling your eyes, but I don't know how else to explain this."

"So, you don't love me?" Garrett starts to interrupt, but I cut him off. "That's the bottom line: you don't love me. That's fine; I can get past that. The real question is do you respect me? Have you ever? Because if you did, you wouldn't have let this happen; not like this."

That silence lingers again until he clears his throat. "You're right. I should have never let this happen. I'm sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me, and I don't expect you to ever speak to me again, I just … "

His thought hangs in the air like smoke around a bonfire, and I sigh. "Yeah, I get it. Closure. Are you okay? Like, do you have a place to stay? Did you get all of your stuff?"

Garrett chuckles a little. "Yeah, I'm fine. Only you would want to know that."

Sitting back down, I sigh again. "That's the difference between us, Garrett. I actually loved you."

Dinner with the Cullen Family is a wonderful time, and while I do enjoy it, I find myself drifting off and zoning out throughout the night. Jess notices; so does Edward. So as the evening winds down and I use leaving as the excuse for my distant behavior, Jess gives me a knowing look. Just after a week of knowing each other, I feel like this bond we've made is so real that she has to know that something happened. I'll tell her later tonight or after we're all back in town and settled, but I can tell that she's aware.

I say my goodbyes to everyone, doling out hugs and kisses on the cheeks for the kids, when I reach Edward, who smiles and pulls me in for a side hug. "You okay? I can see it in your eyes."

Nodding, I sling my free arm around his neck. "Yeah, will you walk me back?"

"Sure." We say goodnight to everyone and start the walk back to my room.

We're silent in the balmy night air, and as we walk side by side, I reach out to grab Edward's hand. "Garrett finally called. It didn't go well."

"I can't imagine that it did. Do you want to talk about it?" Edward asks softly, squeezing my hand.

"I don't know if I do or not, but I wanted to talk to you about something else." I look over at him as we reach my building. "I don't know when I'll be ready, but I'd like you to hit on me."

It takes a moment for what I just said to sink in, but when it does, Edward doesn't turn into a slick lady's man. No, he goes a little wide eyed and slack jawed trying to comprehend what I've just told him.

"I don't want to do anything that might make you uncomfortable." He finally manages to squeak out, and I watch as his Adam's apple bobs up and down.

"I'm not saying I want you to do it now, but …" I sigh and tug on his hand. "C'mon." I drag him to my room so I can talk to him in private. No one is around, but we've been around the same set of people on the island this whole week, and we've met other people. At this point, I'm sure they're curious about what's going on with us.

Opening the door to my suite, I pull him inside. "Look, I'm just saying that I like you. It's too soon for me to date; I definitely need some time. And I would never want to hold you back from anything, but maybe, if the stars align, you could flirt with me."

I'm leaning against the closed door, breathing a little heavily, just staring at Edward a few feet away.

He nods once. "I could do that. If the stars align." He takes a deliberate step toward me. "We'll be seeing a lot of each other." Step.

Laughing, I roll my eyes. "Your sister and Carmen will make sure of it."

Step. "I'll make sure of it."

I gulp. "Will you?"

Step.

"Won't you?" He stops just inches from me. He's so close I can smell the wine on his breath.

Looking up into his eyes, I know the answer; the one deep beneath the surface. I'll make sure. Not because I'm having some hot thoughts for him but because there's an inkling, a fire, and intuition that I thought was gone. I haven't felt my gut screaming at me since my ruined wedding day. I'm not going to ignore it now.

"I'll make sure."

Edward leans forward, one forearm braced on the door behind me as he leans down to whisper in my ear. "I can't wait."

It takes every ounce of willpower I possess not to wrap myself around him. Since neither of us makes a move, Edward finally pulls back. "I should let you get some sleep. I know you're leaving really early."

I clear my throat. "Yeah. Basically, before dawn. My flight is the first one out, so I'll be home early."

"Lauren's picking you up?" he asks, stalling.

"Yeah, and she's bringing the girls." I smile.

"Good." Edward clears his throat. "Can I give you a real hug?"

I nod, and when he steps forward to wrap his arms around me, I suddenly feel safe and warm. This overwhelming sensation of being protected and secure washes over me, and when he squeezes just a little before he releases me, it's the icing on the cake.

"Have a good flight. Let us … let me know when you get in," he says before slipping out my door.

I barely slept, so when I'm buzzing around my room trying to make sure I have everything to go, I'm not paying attention to the time. When the room phone rings, the concierge reminds me to be down at the loading area in ten minutes if I want to get to the airport in time.

I finally make it over there, and I'm thanking the staff members there for everything when I hear my name being called. I have to get on the van to the airport, but I pause as I see Edward jogging over.

"Couldn't let me leave without saying goodbye again?" I snark.

Edward smirks. "Yeah, something like that."

With no preamble Edward pulls me toward him, cups my cheeks in his hands, and presses his lips to mine. The shock I feel is quickly replaced with excitement, and when I move with him and tangle my hands in his hair, it takes a fake cough from one of the resort staff to break us up.

We pull apart, panting and staring at each other. "I'm sorry, Miss Swan. You need to leave now to make your flight."

"I'll call you," Edward tells me as he helps me into the van and shuts the door.