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“Good, ’cause all I need you to do is listen. I know how much you loved India and still do. I know what you went through grieving for her. I know the ache of missing her will forever have a place in your heart, but you need to see that ache isn’t so life-consuming anymore. Is it?”
Taken back by her tone, I murmur, “No.”
“And that’s because of Holly. I don’t care how you get around your own head but she’s the best thing that’s gonna happen to you and Rayna and you know it.”
“I know—”
“Hey, I said you’re gonna listen. She loves you so much and how you don’t see it… hang on, did you say you know?”
“I did. I just spoke to my mom. She said Holly dropped Ray off this morning and can’t be reached now. Do you know where she is?”
They’ve gotten close over the last year. I’m praying she knows.
“I do and as soon as the rain stops, she’s leaving. I tried everything I could to change her mind but I’m not the one who has that power.”
“Where is she, Harps?”
“Room six at the motel.”
“I’m on my way.”
Fuck the rain. Nothing will come between me getting to her. It’s not too late. She’s still in town. I push my bike as fast as I can without killing myself and as I cross the town border, I run through everything I need to say. I ride by the cemetery and fuck me if the rain starts to ease and a ray of sunshine slips through the clouds. It disappears so fast, I start to think I imagined it.
I see Harper’s car parked next to Holly’s and I pull in beside her. Lowering her window, she says, “I waited to make sure she didn’t leave.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“I was thinking more of myself. I don’t want her to leave,” she says with a wink.
“Go on home. I’m not letting her go anywhere.”
Not without me or Rayna and since I don’t plan on leaving town, neither is she.
Climbing off my ride, my jeans cling to my thighs and I look up to the sky, the rain now coming down in sheets.
I bang on her door but don’t hear a fucking thing from the other side. Resting my forehead against the wood, I knock again.
“I know you’re in there, Holly. Open up or I’ll kick it in.”
She has five seconds to show me her face, but it only takes her two before she takes the chain off and the door creaks opens, and I stumble forward.
“Why are you here, Leo?”
Dripping from head to toe, I push past her to get out of the rain and grab one of the towels from the bathroom.
“I’m here for you, to take you home.”
Crossing her arms, she holds herself like she’s in pain and I take a step closer toward her.
“I shouldn’t have left last night. I shouldn’t have said what I did. And I shouldn’t have let you think I don’t love you because I do. I used to be terrified I’d forget India, yet now, all that scares me is the thought of you not with me or going home and you’re not there. I’m so fuckin’ sorry for every time I’ve made you to feel like you’re less than her, because you’re not. You’re both a part of me but you’re both different.”
Her arms to drop to her sides and then she’s wringing her hands together nervously.
“I never wanted to be her, Leo, or replace her. I’ve never wanted you to act like she never existed. I know she’s a part of you and it doesn’t bother me one bit. I promise you that.”
Closing the space between us, I hold her face in my hands and hold her wavering gaze.
“I’ve spent months fighting this because you’ve already been hurt because of my world. I wouldn’t be strong enough to lose you too. My head’s been fucking scrambled of what I think I should be doing, what I want to do, and everything in between. But it’s clear now. It’s you and it has been for a long time.”
