Subject: One Last Request
Micah—
This place shaped who you are. Embrace it.
Love you deeply,
Tanya
That’s all the email says.
One last request? Really, Tanya? I really hope they’re handing you some kind of heavenly Oscar up there.
Dani’s phone pings too and when she practically jumps out of her skin, I know what she’s seeing.
“You got one too?” I ask.
“What the hell is this?”
“I’m guessing this is the true ending of our scavenger hunt.” This must be what Victor was hiding. He knew these emails were scheduled to go out, but I wonder how she decided when we’d get them.
“What does yours say?” she questions, her voice shaky. I tell her and she taps her fingers across her lips. “Our Place?”
“That’s the one.”
“What does she want you to embrace about it?”
My place there. Or what she deems my place should be. She knew about Paris and Penelope’s offer, and she also knew I had turned it down. Is she really expecting me to just change my mind because she sent an email from beyond the grave?
Dani lifts my chin with her hands once I’ve finished telling her my interpretation of Tanya’s email. “Micah.”
“Yes, Storm?”
“What did Tanya say in her letter about you thinking you don’t deserve good things? You’re proving her point right now.”
“I’m okay with that. Because I’m right in this case.”
“Debatable.”
I gasp. “Rude.”
She chuckles. “Don’t deflect; that’s my game. Moonchaser.”
That nickname does something funny in my chest.
“You are deserving of good things. Tanya saw that. Your aunt Monica saw that. Paris and Penelope see that. I see that. And deep down I think you see it too. Your vision is just clouded by the guilt of surviving.”
She’s right about that. I have a hard time celebrating life’s wins because ultimately I end up thinking about the ones who should be standing there with me.
“How about this? I agree to have a conversation with them. I can’t promise anything more than that right now.” I’m not ready to sign any contracts or anything, but I am ready to say I’d like to get there.
“I’ll take it.”
“Good. Can we talk about your email now?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dani
