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She’s lifted her left hand from where it’s been frozen in her lap and is staring at her ring.
A twinge of something nips at the edge of my conscience.
But I won’t say I’m sorry.
Because I’m not. I’m not sorry for what I’ve done.
It had to happen, and once Val understands why, she’ll forgive me.
I know her.
She might not believe that right now, but I do. And I know she’ll eventually understand.
Her breathing changes, and little puffs of breath fill the car.
“Hey.” I glance over at her. “What’s wrong?”
It’s a stupid question to ask right now, but seriously, I don’t know what’s going on with her.
I’ve never seen someone so catatonic, and now she’s starting to breathe heavily.
I reach for her. “Angel.”
“Don’t call me that!” Her sudden shout fills the vehicle.
Only through a lifetime of not showing weakness do I manage not to react to her outburst.
I slowly lower my hand to rest between us. “Alright.”
“This is what I’ve always wanted.” Her voice drops to a whisper.
Keeping my eyes on the road, I sneak another glance, seeing she’s still staring at the ring.
“I don’t know how you knew.” She sounds… lost.
I press my lips together.
Val touches the diamond with the tip of her finger. “You brought this with you, didn’t you? To Vegas.”
I don’t answer. Because we both know that answer is yes.
“You offered me everything I’ve ever wanted,” she says quietly as she pulls the ring off her finger, holding it up to the afternoon sun. “But you can’t hold on to mirages.”
Before I can stop her, she lowers her window, and the wind rushes through the opening as she throws her ring out onto the freeway.
It disappears from view long before it hits the concrete below us, gone forever.
And when her window is back up and she’s settled once more into her seat, I smile.
CHAPTER17
Val
Behind my eyelids,unwanted memories of my mother flitter past.
“Valentine, you need to give men something to look at, or else they’ll just use you and drop you.”
My twelve-year-old self looks down at the baggy T-shirt that nearly hides the jean shorts underneath. “But I don’t want men looking at me.”
