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I walk in my office and I see an envelope with my name scrawled over it on my desk. The last time I saw one just like it was when Lane passed.
I turn it over and open it, wondering what my good friend wanted to tell me when he thought the time was right.
Kalum,
If you have received this letter, it has been almost a year since I’ve been gone. Knowing Aura, she would have waited this long before venturing out on her own, not caring if my wish was for you to look after her. Knowing her, she would have placed every dime in a trust fund like I figured she would for our son and not touch a dime. She was always like that. She must have thought I didn’t notice how she would avoid buying anything for herself, but I did. I noticed. I should have tried harder, but I was so wrapped up in my selfish ways with my cars that I neglected her in a way. The purpose of this letter is hoping you can look out for her either way. If you haven’t found someone… or maybe you have, but if you haven’t and you still love her the way I know deep down, you still do and always will. Do what I should have done and put her first. Love her like I should have loved her, and if anyone deserves Aura, it is you…
Like you said that night you bought the Jeep for her, if you love someone enough, you let them go, even if they don’t come back to you. If that is not love, brother, then I don’t know what is. That Jeep brought her to me and hopefully it will bring her back to you. I may have had her past, but you have her present, and now, you have her future. I trust you with my son, and I trust you with the girl we both fell in love with and promised to take care of. As you trusted me to care for her, I trust you to do the same if I am gone. We both knew it would happen. A guy can only escape death on the track by pushing the limit so many times. My time is up, and now it’s your time. Make the most of it, Kalum. Never doubt the love she had for you. I saw it that night in the diner when she poured her heart out to me. It was her love for you that was in her heart. I wanted you to know that.
PS: Don’t let her pick the least expensive item on the menu.
Your friend always.
Lane Turner.
I place the letter on my desk, not believing what I just read. The fucker was always a strategist. It is creepy how he knew that he would die earlier than expected. He was a loner and an introvert, but we fell in love with the same girl.
The door from my office opens, and Janine enters. She is the only one who enters without knocking since she knows my work habits and my schedule.
“Are you going to try to win your girl back? Woo her?”
“Woo her?” I volley back. “Who the hell says that word anymore?”
“Well, you need to do something and not let her go this time. She will be back after some dinner Camila told me about.”
I frown. “Dinner? What dinner?”
She waves her hand as she picks up the file with my next project and prospectus. “Some family dinner they want Aura and LJ to attend at some country club in Spencer. She is staying with Exie, and they will drive up there.”
Why? So they can make her feel like an outsider and remind her how she doesn’t fit in their world of snobby, rich people? Not on my fucking watch.
“Get my plane ready to go to Spencer.”
She looks up with raised brows. “You’re just going to show up there?”
I shoot her a glance. “Get the plane ready, Janine.”
I need to be there for her. For them. It is not just Aura, for LJ, too. They’re a package deal. The Turners are like vultures circling around, waiting for their next meal. They saw the reaction the media and everyone had today on the track. They want to put her down and feel empowered. They are just upset they couldn’t control Lane the same way my parents tried to control me.
It was what Lane and I had in common. We knew who our family was and what they were capable of. He had his way, and I have mine of how to deal with our families.
47
AURA
“Are you sure this looks okay?” I ask Exie.
I’m looking at myself in the floor-length mirror, wearing a white pantsuit with nude high heels. Exie recommended I wear them.
“You look hot, and that outfit gives you an air of confidence. That is the look we are going with to deal with my parents and their country club dinner. They want LJ to be part of family functions.”
“Funny how Christmas and birthdays don’t count. Like I’m desperate for an invite, but you know what I mean.”
“I know what you mean. I can’t even show up with Dex. They would have a fit. They want me to marry some wealthy, rich prick from the right family. That is how Lane felt and why he left as soon as he graduated and didn’t take a dime of their money.” She sighs. “They hate the fact that he did the opposite of what they wanted.”
I swipe the brush over my hair one last time before we leave. “That includes marrying me and me having LJ. I’m not who they wanted for your brother.”
“They’ll get over it, and it is why you need to just show up, say hi, and then bye. End of story. They can’t say you didn’t show up and tried to keep LJ from them.”
