The Luna Choosing Game

Watching the slump in Julian’s shoulders and slight barely-there drag of his feet as he left, had me immediately and overwhelmingly worried. I quickly asked Veronica and Jessica to keep an eye on Elva, and hurried to follow him.

I came out into the hallway just to watch him slip back out onto the deck.

I hurried that way, opened the door, and rushed through. I caught up to him at the base of the stairs from the deck to the beach.

“You can never leave well enough alone, can you, Piper?” he asked, but there was no real heat behind it. If anything, he seemed relieved to not be alone anymore.

“You know me,” I said with a playful shrug. “Always sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.” I paused enough to let the playfulness pass. I wanted him to know I was serious when I added, “At least with the people I care about.” He gave me a small, grateful smile, then tipped his head toward the beach.

“How about a walk.” “Okay.” Side by side we moved along the edge of the water as the waves lapped at the sand. Sometimes, unexpectedly, those same waves would push a bit farther and tickle the bottoms of our feet as well.

Over the ocean, the sun was starting to set, painting the sky in a rainbow of color: blues and purples, and golden

reds. A beautiful day was becoming a beautiful evening.

I smelled the salty sea and was grateful to be here, to be witnessing this. This was an once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I’d return home and likely never see the beach again. But with these memories, I could be satisfied.

Unfortunately, the man-shaped raincloud beside me did not seem to be enjoying this as much as I did.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.

He had to know I was here for him.

be a given. Yet sometimes, people needed to hear

keep going back to her,” he said, and kicked at the

I kept quiet beside him, sensing that he needed me to listen more than he needed me to speak. That he had recognized his addiction was a good step

all I ever

woman has ever been able to compare. And being with her is like a measurement of success for me,” he said. “I feel like I'll always

oftentimes the hardest part. At least in hindsight. I In the

could say that might help him. Of course, I had

more than she is, as well. No one person is perfect. We all have flaws. Bridget has several. You can’t continue to be blind to that.” He grew quiet for a moment, and I wondered if I

he broke. It was

stop. For the sake of our friendship, I needed

on just to reject you multiple times. She’s gaslit you, she’s made you feel like you aren’t good enough. When she is around, you change into someone that I don’t recognize. It’s like you are a shadow of yourself.” I shook my head. “You deserve better, Julian. You deserve to be

who brings out your best qualities. Not someone

didn’t feel like his anger and frustration was directed at me. “You act like women like that are so easy to come by.” Once more, unbidden, I thought of Veronica’s words to me not all that long ago, that perhaps I should just date Julian

was too entangled

the person Julian needed to date wasn’t me,

about Veronica?” I

at

spend more tirne with her, { Julian. I know you two get along. She obviously cares for you a great deal.” “She does?”

for