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“Night.” My voice cracks and I hit end before he can keep me on the phone any longer. My phone falls to my lap, and Monroe launches herself at me from where she’s sitting on the other side of the couch. She wraps me in a hug while I lose my battle with my tears.
This has to get better, right? It’s been a month and I still cry at least once a day. I miss him so damn much. I miss the plans we had. I miss knowing that I had someone in this world that was all mine.
I have my brother, and he’s been my protector my entire life. I love him for it, but the love I have for Roman is different.
Then, there’s Monroe. She and I met in pre-k, and we’ve been by each other’s sides ever since. I love her like a sister, and she is my best friend, but my relationship with Rome as my best friend differs so much.
Maybe it’s the intimacy. When you bare your heart and body to someone, it’s impossible for them not to take a part of your soul. I opened myself up to him completely, and he did the same.
Sitting up, I wipe at my eyes with the back of my hand. “Give it the four months, right?” I ask Monroe.
“Yeah, babe. I think things are going to work out. The road is a little bumpy, but when you get to the end, it’s going to be worth it.”
“What about spring break? How do I go home and not see him?”
“Easy. We don’t go home. It’s only a week. We can use the excuse we’re gearing up for graduation.”
“Your parents will miss you.”
“Meh, they’ll more than likely come to us.” She grins. “We’ll stay here. When we move back home, if you’re both still struggling like you are right now, then I think the two of you need to have a serious talk. I know he’s worried about Forrest never forgiving each of you, and sure, that’s a possibility, but this pain that you’re both in might be the lesser of the two evils.”
“I hate to think that might be the case. I love my brother. I love them both.”
“Four months,” she reminds me.
I nod. “I’m in. We get through this last stretch, get through graduation, and when the distance is no longer a factor, we’ll see what happens.”
“That sounds like a good plan to me.”
“Thanks, Roe. I know I’ve been a buzzkill recently.”
“I’m sure you’ll get your turn to repay the favor.”
“I doubt it. You’re going to learn from my mistakes and not get involved in a twisted mess like me.”
“We don’t know the future, but I know where to find you when I need you.”
I give her a hug, and we lock up and head to our rooms.
She’s right. The saying “only time will tell” rings true.
I hope time is what we need, because if not, my brother might get his wish. I might leave Ashby. I don’t know that I can see Roman every single day and him not be mine.
ChapterTwenty-One
Roman
“Fuck me,” Forrest says, tossing his phone down on the table in the break room, where we’re all eating lunch. It’s a rare day that all five of us are here at the same time and our schedules align for us to eat together.
“I’ll pass,” Maddox says, taking a bite of his sub.
“Not my type,” Lachlan quips.
“Definitely not,” Legend agrees.
“What’s up?” I ask him. There is concern etched into his features. There isn’t much that would make my best friend react that way. I can’t help but wonder if something is up with her. Emerson has been really quiet this week. Hell, who am I kidding? She’s been quiet since she insisted on that stupid-ass rule that we can’t talk every day. I hate it, and if I thought I missed her before, it’s worse now.
“Emerson.”
