“Hey, it’s me. I know we haven’t talked in a while.” I heard the shakiness in her voice as she took a breath before continuing. “I did something. When we were collecting the dresser, I remembered where you kept the spare key, and I went into the house to get my stuff. My books and tablet and toiletries. And, uh, I broke the wall light by your bed. You know the one. I … I didn’t mean to invade yourprivate space. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Ramsay. And I’m sad.” She let out a huff of hurt laughter and I hung my head, hearing the pain in her voice. “I’m sad you didn’t feel like you could show me who you are. Or who you were. I … Anyway, I’m not going to tell anyone about the wall light. I wanted you to know that.” She let out another shaky breath. “Goodbye, Ramsay.”
Silence echoed around the small room.
I scrubbed a hand over my face.
Silver was smart. She’d kept the message vague because she perceived the truth even if she didn’t realize it herself. And she knew from her own experience, it was possible someone was listening who shouldn’t be.
Smart.
Kind.
Sweet.
Fierce.
Passionate.
Capable.
Strong.
Independent.
My perfect match when it came to sex.
Resilient.
Honorable.
Good.
I missed Silver like I missed a fucking limb.
Gritting my teeth in frustration, I glared at my reflection as I caught it in the mirror on the wall.
In my life, I’d known brutal moments of unhappiness.
I’d known pride.
Satisfaction.
Contentment, even.
But happiness …
I might have known it as a child, before my parents died. I think I did, considering how traumatic losing them was.
But I hadn’t known it since. Not until her.
Realization scored through me along with something else I’d rarely felt until Silver entered my life.
Panic.
“You self-sabotaging bastard,” I muttered angrily at my reflection.
38.Tierney
Ramsay never responded to my voicemail. If he’d chosen to speak to me in person or merely ignore what I’d discovered, I wouldn’t know because fortuitously for me, I had a flight to catch the next day.
