She runs her fingers through the fur around his neck.
“Did you bring him here?”
“Antonio did.”
She chuckles, turning onto her side and pressing her temple to the headboard.
“I bet you must have sulked.”
I turn too, facing her fully.
“I did. I wanted to throw him out.”
“And then you got attached to him.”
I look down at the dog.
She pats his head. “He loves you, you know.”
“He loves you more.”
She grins. “Are you jealous?”
Yes. I’m jealous that he gets to have your love in return.
When I don’t answer, she turns her attention to Bruno. She slides down to press kisses to his head. The bastard takes each one with his eyes closed.
“I’ll miss him terribly,” she sighs, then looks at me. “And you too.”
I want her to miss me when she goes back to her happy life—the life I don’t want her to return to. I’ll still send her away, knowing that eventually, she’ll forget me.One day, someone will come along to love her, to keep her shining and smiling forever.
“What are you thinking?” she asks softly.
“About your future.”
She raises her brows. “What about my future?”
“You’ll move on with your life. Meet new people. Live among those who love you. Marry some good man. Adopt a dog. And easily forget Bruno and me.”
But Bruno and I will never forget you.
“That’s what you think.” She holds my gaze. “And what you think isn’t the truth.”
I want to ask her what the truth is. But I know that would burn the line I’ve drawn between us.
Neither of us speaks after that. A thick tension of unspoken words hangs between us.
Slowly, her eyes close. But mine stay open.
I won’t like what I’ll be forced to see after closing them. And I love the sight before me—so much I want to trapit in time, never letting it go.
Chapter 18
Elowen
My eyes open, I find myself in a bed. It takes me a full minute to remember:I fell asleep in his bed. Now I’m here, covered in black sheets. He and Bruno are gone.
I roll onto my back and smile at the ceiling.
