Page 9 of Sweet Redemption

Secrets and sunsets.

Saltwater and rainstorms.

His hoodie wrapped around my body.

A promise whispered against my forehead.

Tears fill my eyes, and my vision blurs.

I can’t do this.

“I’ve got to go,” I finally manage and hurry out of The Busy Bee, ignoring my name as it’s called behind me.

The sticky night air smacks me in the face, clinging to me as I choke and brace my palms against my stomach, trying desperately to suck in a breath that’s so far out of reach, I may never catch it.

One breath . . . Just one.

But my lungs refuse to fill.

The edge of my vision darkens as I fight to keep my hands steady against my body. Fight to stop the violent shaking. Fight for one single second of relief.

“Serena, look at me.”

That voice.

Of course he followed me.

Even on the verge of a full meltdown, I still do what he says and look at him in time to see him reach again. Slower this time, like I’m a frightened animal he’s trying to tame.

Good fucking luck.

“I. Said. Don’t.” Each word shakes worse than the last.

Hendrix stops, taking a step back and wrapping his dropped hand around his son. But his eyes never leave mine. Their hold on me as strong today as it was three years ago.

“I can’t do this,” I whisper and feel my lungs fill for the first time in what feels like years but in reality is more like minutes. Long seconds strung together with the world’s most painful thread of mistakes.

He swallows. “I’m sorry.”

“Serena,” the hostess calls as she opens the door with a bag marked Kingston in her hands. “You almost left without your order.” She looks between Hendrix and me. “Are you okay?”

When she asks, it doesn’t hurt.

It’s comical, really. Because in no way, in no world, am I okay. But she doesn’t need to know that. No one really does.

Not even Olivia.

Certainly not Hendrix.

I nod at the familiar face and take the bag. “I will be.”

And when I walk away, I don’t look back.

SERENA

I love being an independent woman, I just wish it came with rewards points.

I mean, seriously, even Starbucks gives you a free coffee