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“Bye, Lucy.” I smile and wave back. But the second she’s out of sight and I’m alone, I burst into tears. That was hard. All of it—the moving, the photo, the mention of Thanksgiving, our favorite holiday. I should be over it by now, shouldn’t I?
My therapist claims I never have to get over it, I just have to learn to live with the pain. But living with the pain feels so much harder to do. He’s gone. He’s not coming back, and I can’t change that. No one can. How is it possible to live with that? He was my future. But he was with someone else.
I slam the door shut, blocking out the world, and cry as I slide down the wall, falling into a heap on the floor. Eighteen months, Dani; it’s been eighteen months. Haven’t I shed enough tears?
After an awful night's sleep, hearing every creak, every scratch, every whisper—okay the last didn’t happen, but still, being alone is creepy—I leaped out of bed as soon as the sun broke through my curtains and got ready for work.
Now dressed and ready to go, I drop onto the bed and stare at the blank space on the wall. The perfect spot for my Grand Canyon portrait. The perfect spot for Eric to remain. If I could bring myself to put him there.
Once again, I’m haunted by the events of that day, and I hate that after all this time, I still don’t have any answers. Not even an inkling of what he was doing. Why he’d kept it a secret. We were happy. He’d proposed only a few months earlier. We were in love. I have no reason to doubt any of that, and yet…why? Maybe if I had answers, it would be easier to move forward. But after all this time, I have to assume that won’t happen.
And since I’m turning over a new leaf today, I need to find it in me to enjoy life again. To move on.One step at a time.
Chapter Two
Dani
Checkingmyphoneforthe third time, I make sure I have the correct address before smoothing out my already perfect clothes and slowly walking up the steps to the front door. It’s not that I’m nervous about meeting new people—although that doesn’t exactly help—it’s the fact that I’m not entirely sure I’m up to celebrating Thanksgiving this year. But since Lucy wasn’t taking no for an answer, here I am.
Laughter filters through the closed door as I approach, causing my heart to race as I lift my hand to knock. After a few attempts to get someone’s attention—with the last attempt more of a pounding than a knock—I twist the handle and let myself in.
The chatter gets louder as I move through the house, and when I’ve almost reached what I assume must be the dining room, I stop and listen for a moment, needing to get my bearings.
“As if. There is no way that happened!” Lucy exclaims, and I silently laugh at how expressive she always is.
“Oh, it absolutely did.Twice,” a voice responds that sounds a bit like Dylan, Lucy’s brother, but I can’t say for sure as it’s been a while since we’ve spoken.
“I believe you, man,” someone else says, and they all laugh.
Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders and enter the room, scanning the many faces seated around the table. When I find Lucy, I instantly relax.
“You’re here!” she cheers excitedly, waving me over.
Stepping forward, I push my glasses higher up my nose and smile as Lucy introduces me. “Everyone, this is—”
“Danny?” A deep voice pulls my gaze across the room as Lucy takes in a sharp breath. My eyes find the owner of the voice, and I freeze.Sandy?My pulse spikes at the memory of the last time I saw him, but I try to ignore it. He looks just as sexy as I remember with his long blond hair and striking blue eyes. He’s—
“Wait! What? You know each other?” Lucy asks, cutting off my thoughts.Do we know each other?I mean, we’ve spent a small amount of time together, but that doesn’t mean we know anything about the other. I’m trying to think of the best way to respond when Lucy gasps. “A blond-haired, tattooed player. Please tell me he isn’t Sandy?”
I flinch and watch as Sandy’s eyes widen.Great. That’s right, I may have mentioned him to her. In detail. On a number of occasions.
“Umm…”
“Hell yes, I’m Sandy,” he says, looking between me and Lucy. He has an expression that’s not easy to decipher, but I think I can see a hint of excitement and a dash of concern.
“Is this the friend that’s too good for me, Luce?” he asks, his eyes full of mischief.
“Even more so now that I know you’re Sandy.”
Logan’s eyes flash to mine, and he tilts his head in question. I don’t know how to explain what he’s asking, so I give a simple shrug.
“Hold up,” a stunning blonde says, her forehead creased in confusion as she interrupts our moment. “Can we please all reintroduce ourselves, because it seems I know fewer people than I thought I did.” She turns to Sandy. “Let’s start with you. I’m Summer, and you are…?”
Summer?Why does that name ring a bell?
Sandy laughs before pulling his lips into a grin. “Nice to meet you, Summer. I’m Sandy.”
“Uh-uh…try again,” she says with a raised eyebrow as her eyes briefly flash to mine before moving back to him.
