As we walked back inside, I noticed Lelani craning her neck to watch the front door. Her eyes locked onto us as we entered.
Before we parted ways, Mythic looked at me with those intense eyes and said, “If you get a chance, call me this evening after you get settled.”
“Okay.”
He stared at me long enough for someone to notice. Then luckily, he finally walked away. I watched him for a moment, noticing how he turned to glance back. I felt a twinge of reluctanceas I began to walk away. It felt like I was leaving a constant state of bliss.
As I turned my gaze back, I noticed Lelani staring at us with an unreadable expression.
I turned away as a knot formed in my stomach, knowing that I was stepping back into a reality filled with complications and unspoken truths. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the peace I had just felt with Mythic clung to me.
After Jeremy’s repast, Damar insisted that we stop by our home to get more personal items. Renovations were due to start soon on our bedroom, but I was honestly enjoying the luxury of the hotel and wasn’t pressed to return to basic living.
As Damar and I drove home, I sat in the passenger seat, consumed by the heaviness of the day. Now that all of the family and friends were gone, it was just the two of us, facing the somber reality of our lives without Jeremy. I could feel Damar’s deep sorrow. I felt so alone, so I knew that Damar especially did. We were both lost in our own grief. I knew that I had to set aside my feelings for Mythic for now. I needed to be there for Damar, to support him through this dark time.
As we approached our neighborhood, a sharp pain shot through my stomach. I winced, cringing at the sudden cramp.
Damar glanced over, concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“I have cramps,” I admitted reluctantly.
His expression shifted, disappointment shadowing his features. I felt a pang of sympathy for him. He had so much to deal with already, and I was giving him yet another piece of bad news.
“It’s okay,” he insisted, but I could see it in his eyes—the hope that had been crushed yet again. I knew he was still holding on to the dream of us starting a family, and my body was just another reminder of how far we were from that.
“No, it’s not.” I sighed. “I know you really want this baby. Maybe we can try—”
As we pulled into our driveway, a large SUV parked in it caught my attention. My annoyance flared up; I really didn’t feel like dealing with company right now. I assumed it was family or friends coming by to support Damar. But as we got closer, my eyes widened at the sight of a pristine white Range Rover parked out front, a big red bow perched on top like a gift.
“What the hell?” I muttered under my breath. My ballooned eyes bounced between Damar and the truck.
Damar watched me proudly as he smoothly said, “Happy birthday.”
I turned completely toward him, bewildered. “Wh–What? That’s for me?”
He lay a soothing, comforting hand on my thigh. “Of course.”
Tears filled my eyes as I began to stutter. “H–How did you do this? W–Why did you do this, especially today of all days?”
“I needed something to make me smile, and so did you. You deserve it.” As tears slid down my cheeks, he explained, “I paid the dealership to drop it off for me.”
The initial shock began to fade, slowly giving way to excitement. Without thinking, I jumped out of Damar’s car. “I can’t believe this,” I shrieked excitedly.
As he stepped out and joined me, his gaze softened. “You have no idea how much I love you, Aviana. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me and Stephanie during this time.”
A rush of guilt flowed through me. His words squeezed my heart like a vice, reminding me of how much he truly cared. Now, more than ever, I wanted to confess everything about Mythic, but I couldn’t bring myself to shatter the fragile temporary peace we had.
I could hear sirens in the distance, a wailing sound that grew louder as we stood there. Damar continued to speak, pouring his heart out, but the noise drowned out his words.
“I adore you, Aviana,” he said, his voice straining to break through the blaring noise.
Then the sirens reached a deafening pitch. Suddenly, multiple squad cars sped into the driveway, their lights flashing and sirens blaring.
Two detectives rushed out of a blacked-out SUV. Their serious expressions instantly raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Confusion covered me as I looked between the detectives and Damar, who stood frozen with a blank expression on his face.
The male detective stepped forward, reaching for Damar’s arm. “Damar Scott, you’re under arrest for the murder of Jeremy Scott.”
I felt like the ground had been pulled out from beneath me. “What? No,” I shouted. “You can’t be serious.”
