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“I’m glad to be here.” I wasn’t sure right then if I was being honest or not. If it was the ultimate lie or if the truth of it would be my demise.
I’d been running for years.
Hiding.
Putting one foot in front of the other because it was the only thing I knew how to do.
But coming here, I’d thought…I’d thought I’d try to lay down roots. It was hard to grow when you were simply moving.
Surviving.
Five years was a long time to be stuck in the same agonizing moment.
And I thought maybe…maybe I was ready.
In grief we must live.
I could feel the burn of the words that had been imprinted on my arm.
Molten black eyes flamed as River stared at me, and I wondered if he could feel them, too.
Raven took my hand again and swung it between us. She glanced over at me with a wistful expression on her face. “The only one who isn’t here is Cash because he doesn’t come around much, but this? This is my family. And I’m really excited for you to get to know them.”
FOURTEEN
CHARLEIGH
“Oh my God,why is this so good?” Raven groaned as she wiped a big glob of whipped cream from her cheek. Shocker since she’d just stuffed half a deep-fried Twinkie into her mouth.
A soft laugh climbed from my chest.
My chest that felt lighter than it had in a long, long time.
After she’d made introductions, she’d suggested we browse the festival since she was nearly sold out of flowers, anyway. I’d jumped on it since I’d needed to get away from the dark, dark eyes that had tracked my every move.
Spending this time with her had been…fun.
Incredibly fun, and I liked her so much that it was scary. The way it felt like I could slip right in with her, be at ease when I knew that I could never truly be that with anyone.
“I’m pretty sure you’re confusing delicious with disgusting,” I told her.
She feigned a gasp. “I’ll have you know I have the best taste in the world. I mean, have you seen me?”
She spun in a little circle. The fifties-style pin-up dress she wore hugged all her curves. Raven was all sass and pure sweetness, and I’d never met anyone like her.
“Okay, the dress is cute, but the Twinkie…” I drew it out like I was calling her judgement into question.
She giggled and looped her elbow with mine, our gait slow as we meandered the displays. “Okay, fine, I might be developing a stomachache, but that first bite? Delish.”
The sun had begun to set, and the soft breeze that rolled over the lake dimmed the temperature to perfection. Overhead, string lights had just blinked to life, and the crowd had slowed. It was as if everyone there had become partners to the peace.
I slowed even more as I noticed a display to my right, and I dragged my fingertips over a hand-knitted stuffed animal.
A blue puppy.
A wave of wistfulness rushed over me, and a smile pulled to my face. I glanced at my new friend. “Do you think Nolan would like this?”
Raven inhaled a soft breath as we stopped in front of the table. “Aww, he would love it. You know, since his dad is being a big grump and won’t let him get an actual puppy, but since my brother is a big grump ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s no surprise.”
