The instant I arrived back in town I returned to my cabina and opened my bag to change into my swimsuit. I could still smell Justin’s scent all over my clothes. It was so strong and pungent. The lingering smell had my heart aching instantly. I changed quickly and ran towards the ocean. Oh man, it was refreshing.

I only had five days before I left and the only real task I had to complete was telling my boss I was leaving. Other than that the only thing left for me to do was to enjoy my last days in the sunshine with my friends. Rent was paid for the month so my landlady would have no problem with me leaving early. I swam around for a while enjoying the warm Caribbean ocean. I felt very much relaxed.

My cabina felt cold even though it was 95 degrees. I wanted Justin’s big warm body wrapped around me. I was about to leave my empty apartment to get some food when I realized I hadn’t updated Ali this whole time I’d been away. I called her up, inviting her to dinner with the promise of juicy gossip.

“Can’t wait to see you!” She beamed back into the phone.

“Might be one of the last times,” I joked, even though she had no idea I was leaving, Probably a bit premature of a joke.

“Excuse me!”

“Never mind, I’ll see you in 20.” I hung up the phone before she started prying with questions. Twenty minutes later we were hugging outside a bar.

“Okay, give me this hot gossip!” she demanded before we even sat down.

I laughed, shoeing her off with a hand motion. “Let’s order first. I need a beer ASAP.” We ordered and I filled her in on everything that had happened in my two weeks away. “Look,” I pulled my tank top completely off my shoulder and turned around showing her my scar.

“Oh my god! It’s all like a movie!” She was thrilled for me. “It’s so meant to be! I’m so happy for you.” She was holding her palms up to her chest oohing and awing over everything I said. “But what if you hate it there? I mean Justin sounds amazing, but he might not be worth it all you know?” There was that “what if” question that had been lurking in my head. Finally someone said it out loud. It would be Ali. I thought about it honestly for a moment.

“No…”

“No?”

“Honestly, I don’t think it will be a problem. I’ve been hopping from one place to the next for so long, every place crazier than the last. This though, by far, is the most exciting.” As I said it, I felt it truly in my heart.

She smiled and reached her hands onto my lap. “I’m so happy for you. But I’m going to miss you too much!”

“I’m going to miss you too.” I said it and I meant it, but I didn’t feel upset at all because I was just too excited for my next chapter.

We were three beers in. I was feeling a pretty tipsy already from traveling for so many hours.

“Are you going to bring him here to meet me?” Ali was starting to talk like Drunk Ali.

“Maybe one day. I want him to retire already and move down here with me. Maybe it will happen sooner than later!” Little did I know the exact opposite was about to happen.

Just as I was imaging Justin and I walking along the beach together hand in hand, drunkenly grinning and staring into space, Carlos walked by snapping me back into the present.

“Oh hello, my ray of sunshine.” He said it so extra.

“Hi,” I forced a smile

“Where have you been mi guapo?”

I caught I glimpse of Ali’s expression in the corner of my eye and almost burst into laugher. I caught myself though and managed to say, “Fine, yeah, I’m good.” This wasn’t even the proper response to the question but I was too preoccupied with trying not to laugh I didn’t care.

“Oh you are fine, yes!” Clearly he didn’t seem to care my answer was unfitting either.

Ali started snorting out laugher and excused herself to the bathroom. She will pay for that later I thought as she ran away with her hand over her mouth.

Carlos’s eyes suddenly got wide. “Oh and what is this?” He reached and ran his thumb over my fresh scar. Suddenly I felt very self-conscious and aware of the fact I was no longer single.

I blushed, taking my hand over my scar after him. I looked at it, then looked at him, feeling awkward and not knowing what to say.

“Ok, now I know why you no love me.”

I still didn’t know what to say. I was a little embarrassed that just a few weeks before I had been messing around with him. Finally I figured out how to speak and managed to muster, “Yeah, pretty crazy eh?” I felt my face starting to burn hot.

He invited himself to join the table and ordered a round of shots. Ali came back and was able to keep her composure this time. I started to relax again as we drank beers and laughed over the inappropriate things that came out of Carlos’s mouth.

I felt a new confidence with my scar. I realized Carlos was no longer going to hit on me. I didn’t feel like I was going to be objectified or like I would have to keep turning him down because he knew I was taken. I liked being someone’s omega.

The three of us drank until the sunrise. Bar hopping, dancing, laughing, and slamming tequila on the early morning beach. I loved my life. Change might end up being a little hard after all.