“I won’t lie and say that most of my childhood I didn’t despise you. I did,” I admitted. “I was under the assumption you didn’t care about me. Most of those assumptions came from things Mom had told me, which I’ve learned were mostly untrue.”
The wind picked up, the sweep of the air brushing my hair from my shoulders. “I don’t want our relationship to be built off of past assumptions.” I peered up at him. “I want there to always be clarity with us. I’ve spent a lot of time being angry. I don’t want our time together to be spent with lingering resentment.”
“Neither do I, sweetheart.” His arm wrapped around me. “Your mom isn’t a bad person…she just…”
“Needs to be loved by the right one,” I finished.
“Yeah.” He released me. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be that person for her. I know it hurt her. And I’m sorry you suffered for it.”
I blew out a slow breath. “I’d like to help you with chemo. If you need a ride or anything. I’d be happy to take you.”
He smiled. “I’d like that.”
Jodie called his name, so he left me standing at the sunset, an invisible weight floating off into the air that had been on myshoulders for years. Unfortunately, at the same time, another unwanted weight took its place.
Pulling into my driveway, I gazed in the rearview mirror as I parked, shamelessly looking over at Preston’s house. A vehicle I’d never seen sat in the driveway, along with Wes’s and Theo’s trucks. I felt hollow as I stared at the lights coming from the front window. Not that I would have been able to go if we weren’t in thistimeout, but I wanted to be there. I wanted to meet his sister. Stay up and laugh at the things a young Preston did. I closed my eyes, forcing the tears to stay where they belonged.
Stepping out of my car, I heard the sound of a trash can rolling along the pavement. I glanced up, my lungs pinching at the sight of Preston coming down his driveway. He hadn’t seen me yet. His eyes were glued to the ground. I stood frozen, my heart screaming at me to dart across the street and throw myself at him. But I didn’t budge. Or breathe.
When he reached the end of the driveway, he finally looked up, his steps halting when our eyes locked. For a moment, neitherof us moved. Time stood eerily still. The heaviness of the silence was painful, so I turned to leave when his voice stopped me.
“Trinity…”
I paused, slowly turning back to face him.
“Can you just…let me look at you.” His voice was laced with agony.
It nearly buckled my knees.
“Pres—” I started.
“Please. Can it just be me and you? Just for a second.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. My heart pounded as we continued to stand out in the dark on our empty street.
Finally, I cleared my throat. “I need to go.”
He nodded. “Happy Thanksgiving, Angel.”
Angel.
Who knew one word could do so much damage?
I swallowed thickly. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Then I escaped into the comfort of my home, hoping God would give me the strength to live without him for however long this timeout lasted.
51
Preston
“So what’s her name?”
I jolted at my sister’s voice when I came through the garage door.
“Seriously, Liv?” I glared. “You scared the shit out of me.”
She sipped wine from her glass, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t avoid the question.”
