When Liam’s car disappeared out the driveway, Gemma threw her arms around me. “I’ve missed you so much.” She held me at arm’s length, studying me. “We’ll talk soon, okay? To catch up.”
“You’re leaving me again?” I didn’t mean to sayagain, but it slipped out, nonetheless.
“Just for tonight. It’s safer if we split up. We’ll meet up again tomorrow night. Besides, you and Gray have some talking to do.”
I nodded, feeling that familiar ache in my chest returning.
Grayson noticed and brushed a finger along my cheek. “You’ll have the rest of your lives to catch up.”
Gemma nodded, grinning broadly and my heart fluttered at the prospect.
Against my will, I smiled up at Grayson.
Together or death,his eyes said.
I waved Gemma and Hunter off before getting into Grayson’s car. The silence dropped heavy over us as we drove along the coast, farther away from the city, over sweeping hills into the countryside.
The thrill of the escape had worn off, leaving me with nothing but the thoughts of my betrayal.
Have I chosen correctly?
Gods, why did I do it likethis? I should have found a way to leave Owen that didn’t tear his world apart. I could never forgive myself for this.
I swallowed against the burn in my throat. I was deluding myself. No matter how I did it,nothingcould make this right.
I clamped down on the emotions waiting to tear me to shreds, trying to keep it together as we drove up to a little villa that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
It was covered in vines, reminding me of my own house.
Would I miss it?
Grayson came around the car and opened the door for me. He pulled two suitcases from the trunk and made his way up the steps.
The place was still completely dark as I stepped through the door. I couldn’t see what was inside, but through the floor to ceiling windows on the other side of the room, I could see the ocean, glistening in the moonlight.
It was a full moon. I hadn’t notice. I hadn’t noticed such things in almost two years.
Grayson switched the lights on, and the moon disappeared, instead the little room reflected back at us.
I could see myself too. My clothes were dishevelled, my hair a mess and mascara had left black circles under my eyes. At least I thought it was mascara.
I tried to smooth my hair down, tried to rub the mascara away. The salt of the ocean and my sweat had crystalised on my skin, and I tried to wipe it away too.
Grayson caught my wrists, stilling them as he looked down at me, his eyes soft and a little worried. He gently kissed both my hands. “Come.” He led me through a door into a bedroom, then to an ensuite bathroom. He opened the water in the shower, then untangled my hair from the braid. “Get in. I’ll go warm a towel for you and get you some dry clothes,” he murmured, brushing his hand along my hair.
When the door clicked shut behind him, I crumbled to the floor. I wrapped my arms around my torso trying to keep myself together as the feelings tore me apart.
Owen’s smiling face flickered behind my lids as I sobbed into my hands.
I would never see that smile again.
The realisation made my insides twist in agony, knocking the breath from me.
Arms wrapped around me as I struggled for air.
Grayson pulled my broken body against him, holding me tight as I wailed at my loss.
He rocked me, stroking my hair until my lungs could function again.
