Her eyes drop to the contents of the box.The stack of envelopes sits there, tied together with an old piece of cord I found in my duffel.Some are bent from being shoved in bags.Some are stained with coffee.One has a smear of blood on the corner from when I wrote it too soon after surgery and popped a stitch.
Every single one has her name on it.
She exhales roughly.“Devon…”
I stroke her hair back from her face.“I wrote to you after you said goodbye.”I lift the stack carefully.“Every time I missed you.Every time I got pissed because I couldn’t find you fast enough.Every time I thought about the life I wanted with you.”
Tears fill her eyes.“I didn’t know.”
“I know.How could you?”I place the letters in her lap.“That’s why I’m showing you now.”
Her fingers tremble as they touch the first envelope.“These are all for me?”
“Every word.”I cup her cheek.“You were never the only one chasing, baby.”
A tear slips down her face.
I brush it away with my thumb.“I was chasing you too.”My throat tightens.“I just didn’t know where to run until you finally gave me your name.”
She looks down at the letters again, and I see it happen.Not all at once, not completely, but some of the fear in her eyes eases.Some of that waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop tension fades from her shoulders.
I lean in and kiss her temple.“Read them,” I murmur.“Then tell me if you still think I’m going anywhere.”
9
Suri
My hands trembleas I stare down at the stack of letters in my lap.For a moment, I can’t bring myself to open them.They’re worn around the edges, some of them crumpled like they’ve been folded and unfolded a hundred times.My name is written across every envelope in Devon’s messy handwriting.The sight alone makes my chest ache.
“Go on, baby,” Devon says quietly from beside me.
I glance up, studying him.His dark blue eyes are fixed on me, and I realize with a start that he looks nervous.
Holy shit.Devon Hayes is nervous.
That alone tells me how much these letters matter.
Taking a deep breath, I pull out the first one.
My dearest Suri,
I don’t knowif you’ll ever read this.Hell, I don’t even know where to send it, but I have to write it anyway.
You said goodbye today,and I think it might be the worst day of my life.
Tears immediately sting my eyes.I blink them away and keep reading.
For years,I’ve imagined meeting you.I’ve imagined hearing your voice and seeing your smile.Now I finally know who you are, and somehow, you’re farther away than ever.
I don’t knowwhat you were thinking when you wrote that last letter, but you’re wrong if you think this is the end.
It’s not.
You don’t getto save my life and then walk away from me.
Not happening.
I’m coming for you,baby.
