Page 49 of See Through

“Because I know you, and I pay attention to the things I love.”

My lips part as soon as I hear that word. The one we haven't said. The one that has been hanging in the air for days. We both know what this is. Hell, Dean knew before I did what he felt for me; it just took me a second or two to catch up, but now that I have, it’s obvious.

“You love me?”

“Always have and always will, baby. I’ve known for a long time that you’re the one for me.”

“What would you have done if I never caught up?” I wonder.

“Loved you anyway. It’s all I know how to do, Aubrey. It’s like it's engrained in my DNA to love you, know you, take care of you. I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. I want to love you forever. In this life, in the next one—since I know you believe in that sort of thing.”

I can't help the laugh that bubbles out through my tears.

“I will love you through every lifetime, and that is the only thing I’m sure of in this world.”

“And when we become ghosts together, I’ll love you then too.”

“I can’t wait.”

He kisses me, his hands cupping my face, and suddenly, I don’t feel so see through, or like I’ve spent too much time with the ghosts. This is real. Dean is kissing me, and I’m not afraid to be happy again.

Because as long as I have him, I have the other half of me, no investigation necessary.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“I’m really glad we’re doing this,” I say to my parents as we walk through the wet grass. “I honestly didn’t think you guys would agree to come with me.”

“It seemed like this was important to you when you called us. Of course we want to come and see your brother with you.”

“Thanks.” I smile at them as we walk toward Adrian’s headstone, Dean trailing next to us. When I told my parents about what happened at the house, they were surprised, to say the least. By the time Dean and I finished showing them all the footage, they were speechless.

We haven’t really talked much since then, but when I called them on a whim and asked them to visit Adrian with me, they were all for it. I think they’re starting to understand how I’ve felt about their disdain for my career, and while they may not understand why I put myself in these situations, I think they can tell I’m doing what I love.

They’re slowly coming around, and I think Dean had a lot to do with that. He asked to talk to them alone before we left their house, and I’m not sure what he said to them, but it definitely helped.

“How long has it been since you’ve been here?” I ask them.

“We try to come once a month. Usually, we bring him his favorite coffee from that small shop you two always raved about.” My mom smiles at the memories. “Each time, it gets a little easier walking away from where he rests, but every time we’re back here, I remember the day we buried him. It’s a lot.”

Dean’s fingers flutter against my palm before he grabs my hand, still silent as he walks beside me toward the final resting spot of my brother.

“If you want to join us next time, maybe we can call you before we go?” my father offers. Since Adrian died, it’s been hard for us to connect. I also blame that disconnect on getting older, but maybe Adrian could be the thing to pull us together again. Our family will never be complete. His absence will always be devastating—there’s no way around that—but we’re all feeling his loss. We all knew him. Loved him. Maybe keeping his memory alive is what will bring us closer together.

After all, Adrian will forever be a story that can be told over and over again. We’re responsible for writing more chapters of his story—for letting people know who he was.

“I’d like that.”

“You too, Dean. You know you’re always welcome,” my mother reiterates as we all get up to the headstone. “Hi, darling.”

I immediately kneel in front of Adrian’s gravestone, seeing the quote we picked to go on it in the same spot. There are some old, dead flowers on the side of it, and my father takes his small shovel from his bag, digging them up before he grabs the new ones they brought from my mother. Daylilies, because Adrian always shined like the sun, and I was quiet and kept to myself like the moon.

“I really enjoyed talking with you the other day.” I smile at the dirt. “Thanks for chatting with me.”

I hear my parents sigh heavily behind me, and I know it’s going to take a little while for them to fully come around, but I can tell they’re trying their best, and that’s all I can ask of them.

“We really miss you,” I tell him again. He knows. Wherever he managed to end up after that night, I know he can feel how much I miss him. I just wish I got to talk to him one more time before he died. I wish I got to tell him all the things I’ve said into the sky or written in my old journal I still carry around. “I hope you’re proud of me.”

“I’ll give you guys a few minutes,” Dean says as he clears his throat, walking away as I feel my mom’s hand against my shoulder.