Page 233 of As You Wish

Marjorie Brown: You better tell her, she’s desperate!

Kerry Winsor: I am!!! I’M BEGGING!!!

“Give me patience and serenity.” The words came out calm, and I hoped the crystal in my hands would make me feel it.

It didn’t work.

With a sigh, I leaned back on the park bench I’d taken over, gaze set on the trees. The air still held a lingering warmth, but the leaves were slowly changing colors.

Time was passing, whether I wanted it to or not.

I was glad I went to Atticus for answers, but that had only reinforced my belief that Gabriel’s head was up his ass.

He was an idiot. So much of one that I wasn’t sure what to do.

I was so angry. So angry and something else.

It was a distinct hell to find out the man I loved did everything he could for me and this town. I wanted to be grateful. I wanted to cry out of relief that the grant was run by him and not someone else.

But I also wanted to punch him in the face.

I could tie him down. I could make him admit it. I could use every weapon in my arsenal. I could beg Atticus to step in, but I was terrified that none of it would be enough.

He could still leave.

This wasn’t the first time I’d put my all into something and it didn’t pan out. It was common knowledge that I was stubborn, but Gabriel was far worse. When he made a decision, it stuck.

The last time, I’d hoped I would be enough. I wasn’t.

We were heading toward the same ending now.

People passed me by, giving me a wide berth. They’d seen I was in a bad mood, and I was ignoring every question they had.

There was no point in telling them.

If I had one wish—just one—I’d want a different ending. One where our future was here.

Too bad I was old enough to know wishes didn’t come true.