My heart felt like it cracked in two. There was a massive part of me that wanted to stay, and that voice was insistent.
But reality would win out. I was a danger to Strawberry Springs. I was someone who wouldn’t be welcomed now that my past was out.
“I won’t tonight,” I offered, resting a gentle hand on her cheek. “Stay here with me. We can talk in the morning.”
“But—”
“Piper, we’ve had a shitty fucking day. The last thing I want to do is fight. I just want you right now.”
She leaned into my touch, lip trembling as she nodded. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
I held her for a long moment, trying to memorize the feel of her in her arms. Maybe if I did, it would hurt less when I had to let her go.
“Whatever happens, just know I love you.”
Her eyes met mine. They glistened with the tears she was trying to hold back. “I love you too. So much that I never want this moment to end.”
It would. We were on borrowed time. My countdown had hit zero the second that post went up.
But I nodded anyway.
Tomorrow, I would have a stronger resolve.
45
PIPER
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Jackie Anne:Guys, I’m really worried. The Reserved Bean is closed AGAIN today.
Comments:
Mark Bell:Told you . . .
Jackie Anne:Now is NOT the time! Has anyone heard anything? Who knows Theo?@Piper MWhat about you?
Mollie Wilson:This might be a bad time to mention we also haven’t heard from Piper.
Jackie Anne:Oh my God! I hope everything is okay ...@Kelsey MarieDo you know anything?
Kelsey Marie:I know the same as you all ... which is nothing, and I’m really pissed about it. Paxton doesn’t know anything either.
My eyes blinked open slowly,my body protestingagainst the light filtering in through the curtains. I groaned and tried to close them again, desperate to get back to sleep.
At least in my dreams, my life wasn’t falling apart.
Consciousness seeped in no matter how little I wanted it to, and it brought me back to reality.
Theo was wrapped around me, neither of us willing to let each other go in the night.
Just the thought of him leaving made my world tilt. He and Strawberry Springs felt so interconnected.
What would it be like without him?
I didn’t know a version of Strawberry Springs without him, and I didn’t want to.
Hell, I didn’t want to know alifewithout him either.
