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Shaye ate mechanically, not meeting anyone’s eyes or talking.
In fact, everyone was silent, and we barely ate anything. We managed a slice each and didn’t touch the rest.
“I’m going to put some logs on the fire,” Lake said. I think he just needed something to do with his hands. He always had to move more when he was nervous, although the man rarely sat still as it was.
That left Shaye with us at the table.
“Were you reallynotgoing to do it?” Drew asked. “Or are you just saying this to placate us?”
She turned her head to look at him, body tense and eyes shadowed.
“I was telling the truth. It was my plan when I drove here. That’s why I had them. But I talked myself out of it, at least for now. Here, I can prove it.”
She stood up and went outside. Riven got up and followed her. I was glad to see him going with her, she shouldn’t be alone. I wasn’t sure I believed her yet.
She was rolling her eyes when she came back inside with a journal in her hand.
She ripped out a page and smacked it down on the table in front of Drew before taking her seat with a huff. She angrily ripped off a bite of pizza and chewed while he read.
The look on his face was pure pain. He closed his eyes, took a breath, and nodded before sliding it over to Riven.
Riven scanned the paper and his jaw tightened as he read but he gave nothing else away.
He shoved it my way and I took a breath before reading what she’d written. The handwriting was older at the top, dotted in watermarks from her tears.
It was a goodbye letter.
She had crossed out the top half and the newer writing was below it. The pen was a different color and fresh.
Shaye had poured her heart out on this page, talking about how hard life had been without him. There was anger mixed in, hating that he left her like this. It was full of every emotion and stage of grief.
At the end she told him of her plans, that she wanted to see him soon.
Until she read his letter.
That had, apparently, changed everything. It was hard to read and I felt my throat tighten with emotion.
I wanted to be with you again, Ev, but I can’t do that now. You made sure to take care of me even in your death. Lake needs me and even if I let my feelings for him stay buried, seeing him again changed things.
I would never let him feel the pain that I dealt with over this year. Even if I suffer, I’m not a monster. He deserves better.
Someday I hope I can learn to keep going like before, to find myself. Until then, wait for me, Ev.
I love you.
When Lake joined us, I slid it his way. He should know what she wrote. I had a feeling it would be the first step in healing.
She reached over and took his hand, waiting until he met her eyes to speak again.
“I was going to stay for you.”
ChapterEight
Shaye
Ifelt someone’s gaze on me before I even opened my eyes. Without having to look, I knew it was Lake. His presence was something that I’d always noticed. Only now, it felt different.
We were mates.
