Luke had emailed Gwen shortly after their meeting to reaffirm what he'd already told them. He wouldn't be able to offer her funding at this time without finding someone else to match it. He apologized and once again told her that her business plan was a solid idea.
Ideas weren't enough to get a restaurant started, though. And Gwen didn't know where she'd find someone to replace Jack. She'd once again considered asking her brother Elliot, but he and Bekah had just closed on a house. Gwen doubted they had a lot of extra money lying around.
"How are you doing?" said Jocelyn, breaking through Gwen's thoughts.
Gwen shrugged a shoulder. "I got about half of the lights hung up. I didn't think it'd take me as long as it did. I probably should've started earlier in the day—"
"You know that's not what I'm asking about."
Gwen shot her friend a wry look. "If you're worried that I'm going to throw myself off the nearest cliff, don't worry. I'm not. The water's too cold, anyway."
"Well, if you can make jokes, I guess you're feeling a little better." Jocelyn leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "Have you talked to Jack at all?"
"No." That was all Gwen had the strength to say about that. It still hurt to hear his name spoken.
Jocelyn blew out a breath. "I'm worried about you. You've lost weight. You don't smile much anymore. It's like you're walking around like a zombie."
"I told a man I loved him, and he didn't feel the same. And then he cut me off completely. I didn’t just lose a lover, I lost a friend." Gwen's voice trembled. "So, yeah, I'm a zombie right now. I'm just hoping this feeling won't last forever."
"It won't. Take it from me. You'll get over it eventually."
That made Gwen blink in surprise. "Are you telling me someone broke your heart? I don't believe it."
"That I have a heart? Surprise, I do." Jocelyn's mouth twisted. "And apparently it can break, too. Even robots can be destroyed, you know."
"Are you saying you're a robot?"
"Pretty sure everyone thinks I'm one. That I'm heartless."
"I've never thought that."
"You'd be the first one." Jocelyn hugged herself. "My sister thinks I am."
Gwen desperately wanted to ask more about that situation, but she also knew she couldn't press her luck. Jocelyn was rather like a feral cat that was slowly getting used to people. The cat might let you pet it once, but the next time, it might bite that same hand just as a reminder not to get too close to it.
"I think you try to get keep people at arm's length because that makes things easier," said Gwen quietly. "But if you didn't care, you wouldn't be here in my office right now."
Jocelyn said nothing. Gwen thought she saw a tear on her friend's face, but a second later, she wondered if it was just a trick of the light.
"I actually came here to give you news. Jack's left the island," said Jocelyn.
Gwen felt the earth shift under her feet. Gripping the edge of her desk, it took her a while to reply, "What? When?"
"Yesterday. I heard it from Alex, who'd talked to Trevor, the guy who works on the ferry? He saw Jack getting on it."
"Maybe he was just going for a trip."
Jocelyn's expression was sad. "Trevor said Jack was driving a moving truck."
Gwen had to sit down. She stared at nothing, wondering if she was dreaming all of this. Jack had left, had moved, and he'd said nothing to her.
"I can't believe it," said Gwen, her mouth dry.
"His boat is gone, too."
That statement made Gwen close her eyes. Then it was true: Jack had left. Gwen had destroyed their friendship in one fell swoop. If she'd just kept her mouth shut, none of this would've happened.
She could've pined for him in silence, but at least he would've still been on Hazel Island. She could still hear his gruff laugh, see the rare smile cross his lips.
Gwen felt a touch. Jocelyn was standing over her desk now. "I'm sorry. I really am. He's an asshole, Gwen. You're better off."
"Am I? I don't feel like it."
"He'll regret all of this for the rest of his life. And then he'll die, all alone, wondering why he let someone like you go."
"I never took you for somebody who liked giving pep talks," said Gwen, her eyes watering.
Jocelyn shrugged. "It happens every once in a blue moon. Just don't get used to it."
That made Gwen smile, at least for a moment.
But something kept nagging at her, like a tap on a window that wouldn't go away. "You said Jack's boat was gone?"
"Alex said it was. I haven't confirmed it for myself."
"How would Alex know? She's not a boat person."
"No, but she's a terrible gossip, and everyone loves to tell her things for some strange reason."
Gwen drummed her fingers against her desk. "Did Trevor say Jack had taken the boat on the ferry?"
"I don't think so. Can you do that?"
Gwen's mind began turning. Jack's boat was everything to him. It didn't make sense that he'd just get rid of it if he had moved away. But if it was no longer in the harbor and he hadn't taken it with him...
"I need to talk to Luke," said Gwen.
It took five days before Gwen could meet with Luke. She only had his email address. Based on how he answered her email almost a week after she'd sent it, he didn't seem particularly inclined to see her soon. Then again, she hadn't mentioned Jack in her email. She'd made it sound like she wanted to talk about her business plan again.
After some back and forth, Luke finally agreed to meet with her at her apartment. He eventually arrived twenty minutes late, apologizing but seemingly unaware of how on edge Gwen was.
"Where is Jack?" said Gwen, hardly allowing Luke to sit down before she began to interrogate him.
Luke unbuttoned his jacket and folded his hands. "Is that your new business plan? It's a strange one, I have to say."
"I'm sorry I lied to you. I didn't think you'd talk to me if I said why I really wanted to see you."
"Not sure why you'd think that." Despite his words, Luke looked decidedly uncomfortable.
"I know Jack is gone. I know his boat is gone, too, and he didn't take it with him. You're his friend. He would've told you why he left, where he went."
"Again, I don't know why you think I know anything. Jack is hardly good about giving me the details of his life."
Gwen felt her heart sink into her toes. She'd been so sure Luke would have information that she truly hadn't considered the opposite.
"He won't answer my calls or my texts." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I need to know he's okay. That's all. I'm not trying to stalk him. I'm just worried about him."
Luke sighed. He ran his fingers through his perfectly styled hair, and Gwen could see the tension in his expression.
"Look, I don't know what happened between the two of you," began Luke, "and I don't need to know. But Jack asked me not to tell anyone where he was going."