Wish I could deliver this to you myself but seemed best to send it through the mail. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in SMB before you know it, just giving my father some time to cool off. Which, I have to admit, is a slightly humiliating thing for a grown man to confess, but… well, you’ve met my father now.
You probably understand.
Ihopeyou understand.
And I am so sorry about that whole fucking scene, Lo, could cut my own heart out over it, honestly. Believe me, if I’d hadanyidea he was going to show up—if I had any idea he even knew where I was—I never would’ve let that happen to us. Toyou.
Did I mention the sorry part? The cutting my own heart out of it all?
I know you said you were fine after he left, but I saw your face. Tell me how to make this okay, baby. Anything it takes, I’ll do. You want to sink the boat? Hell, I’ll drill a hole in the bottom myself. Let it sit out there next to theRosalie.You know that was my great-uncle’s boat, right? Probably where the Fitzroy legacy truly belongs—not in the halls of power, but at the bottom of the goddamn ocean.
You’re the most important person in my life right now, Lo.Bar none. There’s not a single thing I wouldn’t do for you. Sink a boat, tell my father to go fuck himself… I think I’d probably kill someone if you asked me to.
Who am I kidding?
IknowI would.
Write back, please. Or call. Your mother has said you’ve been out both times I called this week, and I really hope that’s true, that you’re not just avoiding me or… Christ, I don’t even want towriteit, but if you’re done with me, I wouldn’t blame you.
I might not bother saving myself when I sink the boat, but I wouldn’t blame you.
Write me, Lo. Call me. Please. I didn’t realize just how bright you make every single day of my life until I had to imagine a life without you in it. Too much darkness to contemplate. Even the bottom of the ocean couldn’t compare to that.
Put me out of my misery one way or the other, will ya?
Love∞
L
LANDONP. FITZROY, ESQ.
2/19/84
E—
You said don’t call, but you didn’t say anything aboutwriting.I can already see you rolling those big, beautiful hazel eyes at me, and I probably deserve it, but God, I miss you.
So much.
I know it was for the best that we take a break, and I understand that everything with Lo has been hard on you, which was the absolute last thing I wanted. If I’d had any idea how close the two of you were, I never would’ve started things up with her, but it didn’t even occur to me y’all might be friends, much less best friends. You just seem so different. Night and day, sun and moon.
Anyway. I guess I’d just like a chance to talk to you again, like we used to. Remember that night with the beach bonfire? The two of us must have sat out there until what? One in the morning? Just talking. Talking is so damneasywith you, Sunshine Girl, and it’s honestly unfair to be both as pretty as you areandas smart. Leave some for the rest of us!
I don’t blame you if you throw this in the trash, but I really hope you won’t. We were friends first, remember? And I think we could be friends again. Iwantus to be friends again.
I could use a friend these days.
In hope,
L
CHAPTER FIVE
July 10, 2025
24 Days Left
One of the hardest parts about owning a hotel is how fuckingniceyou have to be all of the time.
