“I’m so happy for you,” I told Emily, the words barely heard through the emotion that clogged my throat.
She came for me, and she wrapped me in her arms and hugged me tight.
Relief gushed from my lungs, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I hugged her as hard as I could, as if it might make up for the lost time.
“Congratulations,” I murmured.
Her arms tightened around me. “I’m happy, Vi. Truly happy.”
She pulled back and took me by both hands, swinging our arms between us. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too.”
Her attention landed on her brother, and it felt as if the two of us had gotten stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm. No place to go but to stand under the ferocity of it.
Their gazes held, and I could feel it when he gave, when he retreated down the hall. Wave after wave of anger hit us in his wake.
She shifted back to look at me, her signature blonde curls bouncing over her shoulders, as pretty as she’d ever been. “I’m so sorry about him, Violet. So sorry that he would act like this.”
A feeble smile wobbled at the corner of my mouth. “Please…don’t be. He brought us together, didn’t he?”
She reached out and played with a lock of my hair. “And he tore us apart.”
“He tore a lot of things apart.”
Her green eyes that were so much like her brother’s searched me, this opalescent sage that made me ache and covered me in warmth. “How have you been?” she asked, studying me for the reaction.
“I’m great.”
It was a lie, but that was okay. Sometimes you had to tell them in order to get by.
Sadness darkened Emily’s expression, and she squeezed my hands in a show of support. “I heard about your mama. I’m so sorry. How is she doing?”
Affection wavered all over my mouth, sorrow and love swimming through the words. “As feisty as ever except for the fact she hardly has the energy to get out of bed.”
“And Daisy?” Emily didn’t wait for an answer.
Instead, her confession flooded out in a rush, “I was gonna come by, you know. I’d already decided once I got back…while we’re here on this break…that I was coming to you. No more of this. No more of you not in my life. It’s not worth living life in regret, and I was hoping you might need me as much as I’ve needed you.”
“I do…I missed you more than I can say.”
I fought for a lighter subject. The last thing I wanted to do was put a damper on her party.
I turned my attention to the rock on her finger that was as big as the one rolling around in my throat. I lifted her hand between us, refusing to let her go now that we had the connection. “Wow…that is some kind of statement.”
Adoration oozed from her pores. “Royce can be…a little over the top.”
“Over the top is just fine as long as he is over the top for you.”
Wistfulness fluttered through her expression. “I found my heart, Vi. He might look my opposite, but he is my exact match.”
“I’m so happy for you. Truly. And the band…I heard y’all struck it big. Got signed with a major label.”
I pinned on the brightest, fakest smile.
“We did. Everything I’ve ever wanted is coming to be. I’m so blessed.”
Another tear slipped free, but this one was nothing but joy. She brought my hand to her flat belly.
“Oh,” I murmured on a gasp. “Oh wow, you’re gonna be a mama?”
She nodded like crazy. “Yes. I still can hardly believe it.”
“Oh goodness, Em.”
Happiness tangled with my sorrow.
She glanced around covertly like we were being watched.
“No one else knows yet except for my family and Mel, of course.”
I grinned through a sniffle.
Mel, that crazy girl. She was Emily’s best friend which meant she’d become one of mine.
“Where is she?”
“Oh, who knows. Probably downstairs knocking some poor, unsuspecting fool down a notch or two.”
I laughed, unable to believe that we were like this.
Us.
Like no time had passed.
Except for the fact that everything had changed.
“I didn’t mean to cause a hiccup in your party. Honest. I just wanted to tell you congratulations. See for myself that he was good for you. Wish you all the joy in the world.”
“Don’t say it like I’m not gonna see you again.”
Regret trembled my chin. “I’m not sure hanging around is such a good idea.”
“Rich made his choice. He doesn’t get to make ours.”
“What if it hurts too much?” It was out before I thought through the admission, but I’d only ever been up front with Emily.
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, and her head tilted to the side. “And what if it hurts too much without us?”
I warred, chewing at the inside of my cheek, before I suggested, “Lunch?”
She giggled. “I was thinking something a little more along the lines of dress shopping, but I’m sure we could fit lunch in, too.”
My brow furrowed.
She squeezed my hands in emphasis. “I want you to be in my weddin’, Violet.”
“Em.”
Distress blazed. Misery over what she was asking and grief over the thought of saying no.
“Please. I miss you. I want you standing beside me when I take the most important step of my life.”
I nodded, even though a horrible feeling was taking me over. “I’d be honored.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
It would have been a whole lot more convincing if the word hadn’t cracked.
I angled my head toward the stairs. “Now, you better get back to your party.”
“Are you going to be okay? Are you sure you don’t want to come down? I’d love to introduce you to Royce.”
“Someday soon, but I think I need to call it a night.”
She hesitated before she nodded and leaned in for a quick hug. “Okay. I’ll talk to you soon. And I mean that.” The last she said with a bolt of carefree laughter, pointing at me as if she had me pegged.
“I’m sure you do.” I let lightness weave into the words.
I watched her as she turned and headed back for the stairs, tossing me a soft smile as she went. I waited until she’d gone and then worked to gather myself. To put myself back together.
Then I lifted my chin and headed for the stairs as if the man didn’t have the power to affect me. To set me off-kilter.
I had too much to be living for to give him the power.
It was a valiant effort, but it didn’t change the fact I could feel the weight of him as I edged down the stairs. It didn’t change the potent energy that lashed and flared and chased me into the night.
His eyes daggers as he watched me go.
Four
Richard
There’s a thing about living a lie.
That lie eats at you. Festers and decays and rots away the good until the only thing that remains is regret.
From where I was hidden below the staircase, I watched her flee across the lobby.