“I’ve been so alone, for so many years.” I continued to cry, pressing my face to the ground where she lay. “And I still godsdamn love him.”
It was a truth that I tried to hide from, deny, push away. But it was like trying not to breathe. Eventually, you had no choice but to suck that air in, and I had no choice but to admit that I loved Louis as much, if not more than, when we were younger.
The energy this time was more noticeable. It wrapped around me tightly, and then I felt her. Her aura was unmistakable. “Reggie?” I said, lifting my head, the feeling of being hugged still with me.
I knew she was there, or some semblance of her power was, and for a moment I let myself feel her. I had my sister back, for the briefest of seconds.
“I love you. I hope you can forgive me.”
The pressure increased, and I felt her love in return. She forgave me.
Then she was gone, in a blink of an eye, and I was a mess.
Somehow my phone was in my hand, and I dialed his number because I needed to hear his voice.
“Tee?”
That low rumble of my name choked me up again.
“Tee, are you okay?”
He spoke again, with more urgency, and a bite in his tone that told me he was worried.
Somehow I managed to choke out a few words. “I … just … please talk to me.”
I felt him calm. Somehow our bond was working completely fine, even if my brain was a mess. “Let me come to you, please. You’re killing me. Your pain is … more than I can handle.”
I squeezed my eyes shut because I wanted him here too, so badly. “Soon,” I promised him. “But for now, tell me something … anything. Distract me.”
A brief pause, and I sensed he was getting himself together. Pushing down his worry and anger. I expected him to talk about something heavy … most probably to do with our bond. Instead he said something I completely didn’t expect.
“Your hair drives me crazy.”
I blinked before a sob-chuckle escaped from me.
“Seriously,” he continued, “I have actual dreams about running my hands through it, and how the hell does it smell like wildflowers? Even when we were kids you smelled of wildflowers. I figured it’s because you were always out in the fields, but there were no fields in Alaska and you still have the same scent.”
Another chuckle burst from my chest. “Of all the things you could have said, you want to talk about your weird obsessions.”
His deep chuckle sent chills across my body, and suddenly all I could think about was his mouth on me. The way he held me up, the strength in his arms and body. This was not the time or place for that, considering I was basically sprawled across my sister’s grave, so I tucked those thoughts away.
“It made you laugh,” he said, and I focused on Louis again. “And honestly, if I’d heard one more choked breath from you, I was coming there, whether you wanted me to or not. I think you overestimate my control.”
“I’m with Regina,” I whispered, my free hand reaching out to rub across the stone with her name again. “I felt her here with me. I think … I think she forgives me.”
There was a beat of silence and my heart raced at what he might say. “I’m sure she thinks there’s nothing to forgive. Your sister loved you, Tee, more than you’ll ever know. We both agreed you were the best of the three of us.”
“Do you still miss her?”
It was a stupid question, I knew he did, but like all stupid things I think, I had to say it.
Another silent beat. Or a few beats more. “I haven’t missed her for a long time, but I still mourn her loss. The world needs more Montgomerys in it. But … my heart no longer aches for her. When I stopped punishing myself, I realized that I’d moved on a long time ago.”
“Could you move on from me?” I wondered, because there might come a time when that would happen.
There was a whoosh of energy, and then Louis was standing before me. He’d magicked himself right into the damn graveyard.
“W-what?” The phone fell from my fingers as I stared up at him.
