“Can I come in?” I croaked.
She nodded and scrambled up as I stumbled to her. I wasn’t sure who grabbed who first, but we both sank to the floor.
“Where’s Levi?” she whispered.
“He’s gone, Avery. I’m sorry.” Her hair was damp from where my face pressed. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I love him.”
“I know. I love him too.”
“And it’s not enough.”
I tightened my hold on her, squeezing my eyes shut. My words had run out and I just . . .
I just couldn’t . . .
I couldn’t lie . . .
I couldn’t tell her it was fine . . .
And I couldn’t stop crying.
My heart couldn’t stop breaking.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Avery
The knock at my front door did nothing to rouse me from bed. I tugged my blanket around myself tighter, staring at the wall as the knocking came again. And again.
But then there was a jingle of keys.
“Avery?”
I sat up immediately as my heart launched to my throat. That voice belonged to the very last person in the world I thought I’d see right now. Before I could hop out of bed, my mom appeared in the doorway.
“I . . .” I trailed off, meeting her gaze.
Her brows pulled together. “Are you okay?”
“No.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. “I know I’m probably not who you want to see right now.”
I couldn’t spare her feelings right now. “You’re not. But no one is.”
June and Evie had been in and out the last few days, keeping me fed. Hell, keeping Mateo and I both fed.
Levi hadn’t even left Monday. He left on Sunday. Took the earliest flight out of Texas and went back home without saying another word to me. To us.
Mom pressed her lips together and nodded. “I understand.”
We stared at each other until my shoulders relaxed a fraction. I let my body slump back into bed, blinking back tears as she entered my room and sat on the edge of my bed. Her hand settled on my hip, and she didn’t say anything.
“The last time you checked on me like this was when I broke up with that guy in high school,” I whispered.
“Oh, god. I remember him. He was a dumbass, too.”
