He wraps an arm around me while I lift the flap and pull out a matching linen note.
Octavia,
It’s never easy to admit when I’m wrong, but I have been wrong about you. I put my desire for control above my willingness to see you for the kindhearted human being that you’ve become in your years away from the family. Instead of looking deeper when I insisted you come to Tickled Pink, I let myself believe you were nothing more than the spoiled brat I would have been in your shoes, and that the image you presented to the world was all there was to you.
I owe you an apology.
Your trust fund has been released. I’ve temporarily left Tickled Pink for a private soul-searching retreat without attempting to run anyone else’s lives, and to give you time to make decisions about your future without interference or judgment.
I hope to someday earn your trust enough to fully hear your story and how you came to rise above all that you were raised to be.
Gigi
I read it three times, my heart pounding first in fear, then in vindication, and finally in sadness before I hand it back to Dylan.
He doesn’t say anything. Simply kisses my hair again and waits.
“I want to be furious with her,” I finally say, “but if she hadn’t been such a controlling, manipulative asshole, I wouldn’t have you.”
“Maybe don’t tell her that if we ever see her again.”
I laugh. “That part was understood.”
“Tavi?” someone hisses behind us.“Tavi. Dylan.”
We both turn.
Willie Wayne’s lurking in the shadows, making thecome heregesture. I lift my brows at Dylan.
He shrugs like he has no idea what’s up, but he rises, pockets Gigi’s letter again for me, and offers me a hand.
“Quick,” Willie Wayne hisses.
We slip off the patio and into the darkness. Willie Wayne grabs each of us by the arm and tugs us deeper into the shadows, out into the woods behind the community center. “Don’t trip,” he whispers.
“Some light would help,” I whisper back.
“Don’t sound like Phoebe. You’ll ruin it.”
“Don’t be a dick, Double Dub,” Dylan whispers.
We take three more steps, and then a flashlight flicks on and shines right at us.
I wince and throw up an arm. “Where are we?”
“Hurry up,” Jane hisses. “Before someone sees.”
Wait. Jane’s here?
She points the flashlight at the ground, and the light gives off enough of an ambient glow to illuminate one other person with her.
“Ah, hell, you aren’t,” Dylan says.
“Shush. You don’t get a vote,” Ridhi replies.
Willie Wayne shoves me forward.
Jane links her arm into mine. Ridhi does the same on the other side.
