“I dragged you halfway across the world,” I say while sniffling against her shoulder.
“That’s okay. You know I’m always up for an adventure. I wouldn’t have cared,” she reassures me.
“I know, but I promised you six months, and I owe you that,” I tell her.
Lauren moves out of our embrace and wipes the tears from my cheeks. “Babe, you owe me nothing. If you were that unhappy, why did you not tell me? I would have understood. I know you haven’t been able to bake as much as you like here, and I could see that was frustrating you. But then you reassured me you were so close to reaching your dream, so I didn’t question you. Damn! Now, I wish I had. I never want to see you unhappy.” I don’t deserve Lauren as a best friend, so I do the only thing I can and wrap my arms around her neck again and hug her tightly.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. I was upset that I had made this decision to leave because of Alistair hurting me, and I felt guilty that I dragged you away from London and away from your mystery man. That I made it seem like going to the island was the greatest thing ever, but I was so wrong.”
“Why did you never tell me this? We could have left,” she adds.
“I thought you loved it here?”
“Don’t get me wrong, this is fun. But I can’t keep doing this forever. I need to grow up and work out what the hell I want to do with my life,” she confesses to me.
“I didn’t know you were feeling this way.”
“I didn’t want to burden you with my concerns because I know you have a goal for your bakery, and I didn’t want to destroy that goal,” she tells me.
“We’re a right pair, aren’t we?” I say, chuckling beside her.
“We both thought we were being good friends by sucking it up, but in reality, we both aren’t happy here,” Lauren says, shaking her head. “So, what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“What are you going to do about Alistair?” Lauren asks curiously.
“He wants me to stay the week with him in his villa.”
Lauren’s face breaks out in a wide smile. “I think you should, and maybe by the end of the week you’ll know if you want to go back to London with him,” she adds.
“It’s just fun in Paradise, nothing more,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Bullshit!” She nudges my shoulder. “You don’t have to stay here anymore, Elle. If you want to go back to London and start that bakery …do it. Take the leap.”
“It all seems rather scary,” I tell her honestly.
“That’s life, babe.” She gives me a small smile.
“What are you thinking of doing? Are you staying? Or are you going to come back to London too?”
“You’re going to need someone to help you set up your bakery,” Lauren says with a smile.
“You want to help me?”
“Bitch, I feel like this has been my dream as much as it has been yours. It’s the only thing I’ve been working toward all these years,” she says frankly.
“Really?”
“As soon as I tasted your cupcakes for the first time, I knew I had to help you bring your baking to the masses. I’d do anything to help you succeed, babe.”
I knew she supported me, but I didn’t realize how much. “I had no idea you felt that strongly about my business?”
“You’re talented as fuck but not in the right headspace to take your dream to the next level. I knew what you needed was time and confidence to see your true worth. Don’t forget, I’ve known you for half your life. I know what you came from and how far you have come from that scared little girl at boarding school. You needed to heal emotionally from all the damage your parents inflicted on you, and now I think you’re ready.”
She has me crying again—I’m not worthy of her as a best friend.
“Be my partner,” I say, blurting out the statement.