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“Birdie cannot be forgotten,” I say.
“She won’t be,” Cullen says.
“I’m supposed to pick a plan? A direction? I’m supposed to come up with what needs to happen next?”
They all nod at me.
“So by remaining quiet, things feel normal,” I say. “Whoever did this just thinks,fuck it, it was a drunk Thorn.If this person feels empowered, it’ll happen again. Next time it might be even worse.”
“Then we keep our eyes open,” Mattia suggests. “We make sure we’re visible. We’re everywhere. We don’t have to say a word. But just being seen, it’ll send a clear message.”
“Sends a message, but what about Birdie?” Laz asks.
They all look at me again.
Cullen nods to me.
This is where I’m supposed to make a decision.
This is where I’m supposed to come up with a plan.
I swallow hard and finally just say, “I like what Mattia just said. Kind of just lingering around. Being seen. Having that presence in silence.”
“Okay,” Gabriele says. “That’s what we’ll do then.”
“If anything changes, you tell us,” Ronan says.
“So we’re done then?” I ask.
They all stand up and nod.
One by one they all walk back into the house.
I stand there and hug myself, the cool air making me shiver.
Cullen steps closer to me.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say.
“Yes, I did,” he says. “You’re anHeir. It’s time you fully experience it. Making tough decisions. Dealing with uncomfortable situations. That’s what this all is. There’s a lot of power and responsibility in this life, Jaci. Some days are harder than others.”
“What do you do on the really hard days?” I ask.
“Just find something that gives you a sense of pleasure,” Cullen says. “Some guys drink. Some guys fight. Some guys lift weights. Some guys watch movies. Everyone is different.”
“So you’re telling me I should find something to take the edge off?” I ask.
Cullen nods.
My tongue suddenly tingles for azaza… or two. Or three.
There are no drugs close enough to me right now.
But Cullen is close enough.
He can be my drug for a little while.
Chapter 56
