Nath gives me a friendly pat on the back, then picks up the flowerpot and disappears downstairs.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to process the whirlwind of emotions tossing me around. Could Nath be right — does he actually care about me? Did I pursue my passion for photography at the expense of someone I love?
As if on cue, Jonathan appears in the garden below. I watch as he helps Nath move a big table from one end of the garden to the other.
Did I make a mistake? My breath leaves me as he smiles at Nath and I’m hit by a profound sense of clarity.
Over the past summer, I’ve doubted my future, my photography, my dreams. But with Jonathan, everything felt clear. Everything felt alive. He’s the perfect part of my day when everything feels softer and brighter. With him, darkness isn’t so harsh.
He’s my golden hour.
My heart races in my chest, and my eyes are wide open. He looks up towards the event room and I abruptly turn away.
It’s the first time I’ve felt at peace since hearing about the competition for the headlining campaign. This competition now feels like an insignificant blip, a minor factor distracting from an even bigger truth.
I love Jonathan Wright. And I hope he can forgive me.
51
Kiara
I take the final step onto the Legacy summit, staring at my feet intently. Just as I used to do with Jonathan, I raise my head to take in the view in one panoramic glance. And just as I had done on many, many mornings this summer, I exhale in a whoosh. The sunrise this morning is breathtaking.
Laying down my rain jacket and taking a seat on the damp ground, I relish the view as the sun rises over the peaks behind the lake. Vibrant reds and yellows streak the sky, signaling a change of season. The horizon has a crispness to it, a brisk clarity. It felt like fall as I marched up the mountain. The cool breeze penetrated my light jacket, making me wish I brought a sweater.
For once, I’m up here alone.
I considered inviting Bree, or Stefi and Anaya, but it felt oddly intrusive to be up here with anyone other than Jonathan.
I tried to catch Jonathan. I wanted to invite him to the Legacy summit to chase sunrise for the last time. I couldn’t, though, and if I’m honest, even if I got the chance to speak with him, I’m not sure what I would say.
The end is here. Tonight is our last night at Legacy Inn and we all head home tomorrow.
I take a sip of coffee from my to-go mug, the only accessory I have with me this morning. Climbing to the Legacy Summit by myself and without my camera was the perfect way to end a summer that had taught me so much.
“Wait til Ava hears about this.” I gaze out over the horizon.
I’ll admit that, despite my sadness, I’m beaming with pride at the fact that I did this alone. This was a feat that seemed impossible just three months ago.
But a lot of things seemed impossible three months ago.
Thinking back over the summer, I can’t believe how much has changed. I came to the Legacy Inn afraid of bugs and taking “dull” photos. Now? Those fears have faded and my photos are alive.
I learned that photography can be fun. I learned that work doesn’t always have to come ahead of play. And I learned that love can come first, even if — especially if — it feels scary.
All that being said, I wouldn’t know where to begin explaining this to the person who most needs to hear it.
How do I put together the words to apologize to Jonathan? I abandoned him after Delia announced the competition, thinking only of myself when he had wanted to partner up. I accused him of not working hard for what he wants when I know that isn’t the case. His being here this summer instead of at Momentum is a testament to that. Not to mention the fact that I assumed he and Isabella were back together without giving him the chance to explain.
The van Nispens would be so disappointed.
The sun is rising quickly over the peaks and the clouds are moving in, creating an even more dramatic skyline. As the peaks glow under the light, I think about the moments that changed my life the most this past summer.
I suddenly know what I need to do. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s also the thing I want to do most.
52
Jonathan
“Cheeseburger tacos or an avocado bagel?” Fernando booms as I approach him in the staff room.
He’s wearing a tall chef’s hat with massive blue sunglasses perched on the rim and a pink apron with flowers. He’s really playing up the “last days of summer” theme.
“The usual, please!”
Fernando smirks and piles the bagel onto my plate. I walk over to a table with Stefi, Cooper, Anaya and Wes. Bree and Noah are nowhere to be found. It’s a bittersweet moment as I remember how much Kiara loved these avocado bagels. It was her recipe that inspired Fernando to add the bagel to the menu.
“You look like my grandpa when he’s on vacation,” Anaya says.
“You can thank Vin for that,” I say, laughing.
When he heard I was planning on wearing my regular hoodie and shorts, Vin lent me a bright yellow Hawaiian shirt. In true Legacy Inn fashion, our dinner theme is ‘Last Days of Summer’ so the outfit is basically mandatory. Our final guests left today and the staff leave tomorrow.
“Very… tropical.” Anaya grins, then digs into her cheeseburger taco.
Her end of summer outfit is a massive beige sweater over a colorful sundress, with flip-flop earrings. It’s quirky — perfect for her.
I hope we’ll be friends once we all get back to school. It was fun to hang out with the kids from Edendale High without having labels attached.
Kiara enters the room and I nearly choke on my bagel.
She wears a white blouse and red capri pants. Her hair falls in soft waves, and she’s practically glowing. She walks to Fernando — completely unaware of the effect she’s having on me — and laughs with him. She almost does the little half-smile that I love so much, and I briefly wonder if I’ll be lucky enough to see it again.
She turns, her eyes meeting mine. There’s something there, an invisible spark, and then she looks away.
I’m no longer hungry. All I want is to see her smile.
Anything to make her happy.
And I know of one thing that will make her happy — winning the competition to work as the Inn’s official photographer.
The last few days have been eye-opening. I’ve realized that I don’t need to live by other people’s expectations. Photography is my dream, but I know I need the extra education. Photography school is my future, and winning the competition would guarantee entry, but I won’t do it if it means hurting Kiara. She’s spent her life building her portfolio, I’ve only worked through the summer.
Tonight, after our dinner, I plan to tell Delia that Kiara will headline the campaign. It’s the least I can do for her, regardless of if she ever wants to speak to me again.
“Hi, everyone, hello.” Kiara stands on a chair at the front of the room.
The room goes silent and everyone turns towards her.
What is she doing?
“Thanks.” There’s a nervous wobble in her voice. “I’ve just got a few things to say, then we can all go back to stuffing our faces.”
Anaya, mid-bite, chuckles and almost chokes. She pats herself on the chest, then motions for Kiara to continue. This gives Kiara courage, and her trademark half-smile returns.
My heart wants to burst.
“This has been the best summer of my life,” Kiara says. “I want to say a special thanks to Vin and Nath for showing me the ropes, and to Delia for her never-ending guidance and happy spirit. I’ll never forget the time we all spent together.”
A chorus of “aww”s are heard throughout the room.
“There is one person, in particular, that I want to thank,” Kiara says. She takes a deep breath. “Jonathan Wright. When I saw you here on our first day, I was… devastated.”
Everyone laughs, and I snort despite my confusion. Yes, I remem
ber that clearly.
“But you showed me so much this summer. I learned a lot thanks to you. Not only in terms of photography but also in terms of life. You have to be one of the most fun, most irresponsible, most carefree people I know. And I love that about you.”
Did she just—
“And because of that — because you’ve already taught me so much — I want to return the favor.”
Kiara turns towards Delia, who’s standing at the back of the room.
It’s difficult to breathe.
“Delia, Jonathan should headline the Inn’s ad campaign in the coming months. He’s done some phenomenal work and I couldn’t be happier to see what he’s achieved. I want to give up my spot in the competition.”
53
Kiara
The entire room stares at me, but I feel confident. Normally, I don’t do well speaking in front of crowds. But I’ve thought about this moment so many times that the words come easily.
When I realized I needed to give up my spot, a weight lifted. Jonathan deserves this opportunity, and I’m tired of competing with him for it. I’ve done what I can with my portfolio and, in all honesty, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished this summer.
Because of Jonathan, my photos are alive. There’s movement, there’s excitement, there’s a genuine sense of liveliness. Whether or not Glacier Journal agrees, I know my photos are miles ahead of where they once were.
Now, it’s his turn to build a portfolio he’s proud of, so he can pursue what he truly wants to do.
My eyes meet Delia’s. Instead of nodding or acknowledging my speech, she’s simply beaming at me, for some bizarre reason.
Before either of us can say anything, Jonathan stands and leaves the room.
Silence echoes throughout the space and devastation fills me. My hands fall to my side and the room hesitantly breaks out into a low chatter.
Nice one, Kiara.
Sadness consumes me. I guess I’m too late, after all.
Nath stands and makes her way towards me, along with Anaya and Stefi. Delia’s disappeared.
I give my friends a half-wave, then bolt down the stairs, away from the Inn.
The tears come hot and heavy as I dart to my cabin, hoping that Jonathan didn’t come this way. Or maybe hoping he did. It’s clear that our relationship is over. Officially, this time.
I slip into my cabin and slam the door, then collapse on the floor and let the tears flow. In Jonathan’s eyes, I’m back to being ‘Kiara the Queen’ and he’s back to being ‘Golden Boy.’ Come next Monday, we’ll be at Edendale High, lobbing insults from afar.
I made a mistake.
I followed my fear instead of listening to my heart. All of my most treasured moments this summer included Jonathan. These moments were special because of him, not because of the wildlife and nature, or the weddings, or even the photography.
Mom was wrong. It was never about finding time for love, but about making time for love when it found you.
I wipe away my tears, grab my suitcase, and start stuffing clothes inside. I’ve done everything I need to do at Legacy Inn. There’s no point in me staying for the last day. Jonathan’s made it abundantly clear how he feels about me. I don’t particularly want to stick around and face him. I’ll be doing enough of that over this final year at Edendale High.
There should be buses running early tomorrow. I press my little black dress into my suitcase and resolve to hop on the first bus. Knowing my mom, she won’t be around, so I’ll have a few days to mope before school starts.
I put my suitcase on the floor and turn off the light in my cabin for the last time. I glance around the room as a stupid part of me wishes that Jonathan might change his mind, might come and find me.
I tuck myself into my bed, bringing my blanket right under my chin as the tears slide sideways down my face. Up until I fall asleep, I wish to hear a knock on my door. We don’t need to get back together; I just want him to forgive me.
But the knock never comes, and each moment throws me deeper into an unpleasant sleep.
54
Jonathan
It’s almost time. I hope this works.
My heart races as I walk through the darkness around the cabins. A layer of dew covers the grass, but I barely notice my soaking shoes. I gingerly make my way into my cabin, grab a single item, then exit.
A small strip of grass separates my cabin from Kiara’s. I stand near the window and summon my courage.
Knock. Knock.
My knuckles rap lightly against the glass and I listen for any sign of life in the cabin. But there’s only silence.
I knock again, slightly louder. This time, I hear a soft moan and some movement from inside the cabin. Overhead, the dark sky is taking on a bluish hue.
I knock one last time.
The curtains slide open.
Kiara glares, her hair piled high onto her head. Somehow, she’s still one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen. I motion for her to open the window, and reluctantly, she does.
“Come with me,” I whisper. I repeat the words that tied us together before our first cliff jump. “Trust me. One more time. Please.”
She narrows her eyes.
My heart beats so loudly the noise will surely wake the entire Inn. She has no reason to trust me, but I’m hoping luck might swing in my favor.
She closes the window and shuts the curtains.
I take a step back. A decision has been made, but which way will it go?
I wait.
And wait.
And wait.
My hopes crash and burn. She won’t be coming with me. She put herself out there, took a leap of faith, and I wasn’t there to catch her. Now she’s—
Her cabin door opens. She steps out wearing a hoodie and shorts.
I smile, bound over to her, and grab her hand. She doesn’t intertwine her fingers with mine, but she doesn’t pull away, either.
It takes two steps for her to figure out where we’re going.
This morning, we reach the Legacy summit in record time. Without saying a word, we look at each other, silently count to three, then lift our heads to take in the scene in one look. Together.
55
Jonathan
The Legacy summit is a mirror image of our first date. There’s a blanket for us to sit, and the spot is lit by candles. The sky is still dark blue, so the effect is especially pronounced. The air is calm, and it feels like we’re up in space, above the entire world.
Kiara takes in the scene and her adorable half-smile returns. She lets go of my hand, wordlessly moves to the blanket, and pats the spot next to her.
I sit.
She shivers.
I hand her the coffee mug I brought up.
Still not saying anything, but now grinning, she wraps her hands around it. She takes a sip, her eyes gazing into mine, waiting for me to talk. She told me her truth in the staff room, and now it’s time for me to return the favor.
How on earth am I going to get the words right?
“This summer has been everything,” I say. “I’ve never met someone so stubborn.”
She cocks an eyebrow, but she’s still grinning.
“Someone so stubborn, and so brilliant. And confident. And headstrong.”
She sets her coffee down and takes my hands. She rubs one of her thumbs along mine.
“I don’t care about being the Inn’s official photographer. I don’t care about the Eagles. Or Edendale. I don’t care about any of that, because none of that means anything if I can’t be with you. This whole insane competition doesn’t matter to me if it means losing you. I’m going to tell Delia I’m stepping down.”
Her mouth twitches, but she still says nothing.
“At the wedding, Isabella asked me to dance in exchange for not telling anyone that I was here.” It’s hard to look Kiara in the eye, but I do my best. “And that’s one of my biggest regrets. I love photography, and I shouldn’t be trying to keep it a secret. You should
never keep the things you love a secret. And that’s why I don’t want to keep you a secret. To keep us a secret. If there’s still an us — and I’m really hoping there is.”
Every word is true.
The sun rises slowly, the sky a swirl of beautiful pastels. A late summer breeze surrounds us with the scent of pine. The candles flicker.
“I came up here alone yesterday,” Kiara says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Because of you, I’m climbing mountains in the dark. And not just because it makes a great photo op. But because I want to. Because life is about climbing mountains and taking chances and living.”
I squeeze her hands.
“I’m so sorry for what I said,” Kiara says. “I know how hard you work. I know how difficult it must have been for you to come here. You stood up to the world to pursue something you love.”
My heart sings. Kiara always speaks the truth. She continues. “You have done something amazing this summer, Jonathan. And you never cease to amaze me.”
“But,” I say. “I still have one regret.”
She raises her eyebrows.
“I didn’t get to dance with you at the wedding.”
She stands, her half-smile on her face. “So dance with me now.”
I stand and take her in my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck and rests her head on my chest. We sway side to side to a soundless rhythm that only we can hear. I feel the warmth of her body and smell the shampoo in her hair. She fits perfectly in my arms.
“I love you, Kiara.”
She tilts her head. “And I you.”
Slowly, I take her face in my hand. I want to extend this perfect moment for as long as possible. As we slow dance on the mountaintop, the sun rising, the sky a vibrant collection of colors, my lips meet hers. We kiss with the softness of whispered secrets, and there’s a profound sense of peace.
The Complete Legacy Inn Collection: Four Sweet YA Romances Page 64