Page 88 of Savagely Scarred

A crow caws above me, and I glance up to follow its flight across the cemetery. It finds perch on top of a large angel statue in the center of a grouping of old and worn headstones. It follows my movements and caws again. I cross my arms over my chest and continue down the path, ignoring my harbinger of death.

Dorian follows silently behind me. His usual talkative presence is eerily quiet. I glance over my shoulder at him and he is looking down at his feet with his hands in his pockets.

We had gone to the grocery store to buy ingredients for dinner while Sage picked up Sadie from training. I decided to make everyone spaghetti since it’s one of the few meals I can make and not screw up. Dorian got assigned to bodyguard duty. What he didn’t sign up for was a meltdown in aisle eight.

I stop at the pair of headstones near an old oak tree. One is new and still holds the sheen from the gloss. The other is starting to show the wear of being over ten years old. Holding my breath, I place my palm on the top of the older one.

Marie Calloway.

“One of my last good memories of Kyle was at her funeral,” I blurt out and drop my hand.

Dorian stands next to me and wraps his arm around my shoulder, squeezing gently.

“It’s hard to remember the good ones when the bad ones overshadow them.” He swallows hard and shifts his eyes to me.

I nod. “I don’t want to remember any good ones of him. I wish I could erase him completely. Like he never existed.”

“You wouldn’t be you then,” he disagrees. “Sometimes the worst memories act as reminders. They haunt you, but they serve a purpose.” He drops his arm from my shoulder and shoves his hand back into his pocket before continuing.

“Mine will always be there because it was the last time I saw them. As grim as it is, I don’t want to lose those memories.”

Dorian has been through hell when it comes to his family. He’s the only one who understands my loss and pain completely. It’s one of the reasons why we became close. Two friends with tragic stories.

“Welcome to the Dead Parent’s Club, Liv.” He smirks.

My lips curve into a smile, and I shove my shoulder into his.

“What? Too soon?” He chuckles before hardening his expression. “At least you still have your brother.”

“Kyle would have killed him too. He would’ve been a loose end.” Dorian nods in agreement. “And as much as I hate to admit it, I think Kyle did Dad a favor. He wasn’t truly living anymore. Not since Mom died.” I squat down in front of his grave and place my hand on his headstone. “They’re together again. That’s all that matters.”

A throat clears from behind me and I turn my head and see Sage standing next to Dorian.

My brows furrow. “How did you—,” He holds up his cell phone and wiggles it. “Oh. Right.”

Standing up, I fold my arms across my chest. “I didn’t break your rule.”

“I know.” He pockets his phone.

Dorian slaps him on the back and hikes his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll meet you guys back at the house.”

“Okay,” Sage and I say in unison. Dorian retreats down the path towards the exit.

I bite my bottom lip. “If you knew I was with him, why did you come?”

He waves his arm out. “You’re in the cemetery. Clearly something’s wrong.”

I spin around and look at the headstones. “I haven’t been here since we buried him." I pause and spin my ring. “I had a breakdown in the grocery store today.”

“Oh, baby—” He reaches for my hand.

When I pull away and turn to face him, his brows furrow.

“What if we’re just trauma bonded?” He flinches like I slapped him. I wave my hand, motioning between us. “What if this is doomed to end in tragedy? When all of this is over and he’s finally dead. That it—this—wasn’t real?”

Tears pool in my eyes. He takes a step toward me but stops when I take one back. His face twists in anguish.

“Is that what you think? That our love is just a false sense of security? A survival measure?”