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“Dad!” I gasp. “You can’t say things like that!”
Just as he opens his mouth, his eyes shift to something over my shoulder. They widen as he slams it shut again before jerking to his feet and nearly toppling the chair over in the process.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he growls.
Unease skitters down my spine as I spin around and find Wolf standing a dozen feet away. He’s wearing a light blue dress shirt and pressed tan khakis. The colorful tattoos that decorate his neck peak out from his buttoned collar before disappearing beneath the smooth cotton fabric. My heart clenches painfully at the sight of him. It’s so tempting to leap to my feet and throw myself into his arms.
Instead, I remain seated.
Paralyzed.
Color drains from my mother’s face as she stares at him. It’s like she’s seeing a ghost. Tears spring to her eyes as she shakes her head and sucks in an unsteady breath.
Wolf takes a few awkward steps, closing the distance between us before grounding to a halt at the table.
His gaze stays locked on my father as he says quietly, “Hello, Mr. DiMarco. I was hoping that maybe we could sit down and talk. Miles was such a massive part of my life. Actually, your entire family was, and the loss has been devastating.”
Before Dad can even open his mouth, Mom snaps, “The loss has been devastating? How dare you even say that! We lost our son! Our family was shattered. And you’re the cause. So don’t you dare waltz in here and tell us that you’re devastated. You have no idea what true devastation is.”
The anguish that twists Wolf’s features are enough to break my heart.
Yes, my parents lost their son, and I lost my big brother. But Wolf lost his best friend. And me. All of us. A safe place to grow up.
My parents are steeped so deeply in their own grief that they’re unable to see that. Sometimes I don’t know if they’ll ever find their way out of it and that breaks my heart more than anything. They didn’t die the day Miles did, but they might as well have.
Hot tears sting my eyes. “Mom, that’s not fair. Wolf was a kid, and it wasn’t his fault. It was an accident.”
“Don’t you dare defend him,” she snaps, barely taking her eyes off Wolf. “He was always leading Miles into mischief. I should have put an end to their friendship when they were children. Then my poor baby would still be here.”
Wolf sucks in a harsh breath before straightening his shoulders. “I’m really sorry, Mrs. DiMarco. You have to know how much I loved Miles. Every happy childhood memory I have is filled with you guys. I hate that I caused so much pain for your family. If there were a way to go back in time and make a different decision, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’d do anything to have Miles back with us.”
“Your apology means nothing,” My mother seethes, her voice turning shrill. “If you had any decency whatsoever, you’d leave us in peace.”
His gaze shifts to mine. The misery brimming from his green eyes tears me to pieces. Even though I should tell them the truth about our relationship, the words stick uncomfortably in my throat, refusing to budge.
“You heard my wife,” Dad growls. “Leave now before I have the management throw you out.”
Wolf jerks his head into a nod and breaks eye contact. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is.” Tears streak down Mom’s cheeks before she buries her face in her hands and weeps, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Shock holds me paralyzed as he spins around and walks toward the entrance of the restaurant.
“Good riddance,” Dad says, watching his retreating form. “If I never see that boy again, it’ll be all too soon.”
With each step that takes Wolf further from me, my heart shatters into even more jagged pieces until there’s no way for it to be whole again.
Chapter 37
Wolf
This was a mistake.
I shouldn’t have come here.
What the fuck had I been thinking?
That I was actually going to fix anything with these people?
