It’s been a month, Lowe. Should I assume you’ve made up your mind?
I love you, Lowe. Please come back to me.
“Idon’t know,” I mumble as I glance at the different menu items the venue had provided. “Honestly, not thrilled with any of these options.”
“So, where does that leave us?” Kirstin tosses the stack of papers on her desk and leans back in her chair.
I shrug. “Let me look at it when I’m hungry. Maybe that’ll help something jump out at me.”
“We can find a different caterer, too.”
Flipping open my laptop, I go into my email to search for all emails we’ve received from catering companies in the last coupleof months. I forward a few that look promising to her, but before we can dive into it, my phone starts to ring.
“You go ahead and answer that,” Kirstin tells me. “I’ll start looking through these.”
I give her a subtle nod as I stand, striding out of her office and heading toward one of the conference rooms for some privacy. Once the door is closed behind me, I slide to answer the call.
“This is Marlowe Reyes.”
“Good afternoon, Marlowe. It’s Officer Greene, Jerry. Do you have a second?”
“Of course.”
I pull out one of the leather rolling chairs around the small table and sit down, putting my phone on speaker so I can fold my hands together. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear before my hands begin to fidget in my lap.
“I have an update in the investigation, and I thought it was important that you be one of the first to know, given the circumstances.” He pauses, and I bite my lip in anticipation. “After reviewing the recovered footage from the street cameras and the dash cam in the third car, and examining the vehicles, it is clear Cole did not cause the crash. It appears there was a break issue with the other vehicle involved. It truly was an accident.”
The air whooshes out of my lungs and I place a hand on my chest, tears instantly springing to my eyes. That familiar grief is only a fraction compared to the relief I feel. I take a deep breath as I glance up at the ceiling before nodding to myself.
“Thank you for letting me know.” I run a hand through my hair. “I appreciate everything that you’ve put into this.”
“Of course, Marlowe. I know it won’t bring them back, but I hope this is some small consolation.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. “It is.”
After we say our goodbyes, I sit there for a moment longer, staring out the window. I can’t slow my breathing, the realization that I can finally put this behind me almost too much for me to handle. Abruptly pushing the chair back, I exit the room and head to Kirstin’s office.
“I need to get some fresh air,” I tell her as I stick my head into her office. “I’ll be back.”
I don’t wait for her response as I take off through the office, heading toward the elevator. Taking it up to the top floor, I wave at the receptionist for the company on this level and make my way toward the stairs to head up to the roof. Pushing open the metal door, I burst onto the rooftop, the cold air nipping at my skin through the long sleeves of my red button-up blouse.
The second the door closes behind me, I tilt my head up to the sky, taking in a deep breath through my nose that I release out through my mouth. It’s over. That’s the only thought that keeps running through my head. All the confusion and heartache I’ve felt over their deaths is over. The pain and suffering from my relationship with Travis is over. I wanted a fresh start, and it appears as if I might finally have it.
Opening my eyes, I let them trail to the skyline when I notice a figure leaning against the railing. A smile tugs at my lips, but it falters as I notice the hunched shoulders and the bowed head.
“What’s got you all sad?”
My words don’t seem to startle him the way I had anticipated. “Oh, you know, just pondering the great mystery that is life itself.”
Levi spins around, the corner of his mouth tilting up ever so slightly. I watch as he walks over to the sitting area, sitting down in the anti-gravity chair and leaning back before his attention returns to me.
“You’re making me anxious.” I raise a brow. “You can still admire me from a sitting position.”
I laugh loudly at that, the memory from all those years ago hitting me like a ton of bricks. Striding over, I sit in the chair opposite him, crossing my arms in front of me to try to warm up a little. Levi sits up and slips out of his suit coat, leaning forward to drape it around my shoulders. I grip the front and tug it closed, giving him a grateful smile.
“I’m sorry,” he says before I can utter a word. My brows furrow and a frown pulls my lips downward. “I won’t apologize for protecting a friend, but I will apologize for doing so in a way that affected others because of my lack of due diligence. I never imagined that you’d get caught in the crosshairs.”
I loosen my grip on the jacket and lean forward, grabbing his hands between mine. “I appreciate the apology, but you don’t owe me one. Like I said that night, I don’t blame you, and I’m not mad at you. While I might not agree with your method, I understand wanting to do everything in your power to protect those you love.”
