Page 86 of Love Me

I exhale a deep sigh. “Then what are we doing?”

“Taking what we can.”

It’s not enough. I inject steel into my spine and go to him. Rising on my toes, I plant a soft kiss on his lips. “Goodbye then. It’s okay. You will be fine. I will make sure of that,” I vow.

I owe it to that boy, to that version of us we were before this family came between us, to make sure he will come out unscathed.

At the door, I glance at him. Take your fill. Fill your heart, not with memories, but with him at this moment, terrorized by his weakness for you.

I am relieved I won’t carry a part of him with me.

Closing his door, I dab at my tears, the finality settling in my chest.

“How is he?” Abigail intercepts me.

“Over me.”

She snorts and grabs my hand, dragging me downstairs. She pushes me down on the couch while she fills two glasses with alcohol.

“Drink up, buttercup.”

“Is it poisoned?”

“Don’t be dramatic.”

A small smile lifts the corners of my mouth. “You must hate me.”

She sips from her drink and says, “I don’t hate you.”

“Not even after Dane?”

Her entire posture stiffens.

“I’m jealous.”

“You don’t have any reason to be.”

With an arched brow, I point at her ring finger. She lifts it, brows knitting.

“You and him… you fit.”

“I hope we do. We keep each other afloat. Best friends should do that.”

She takes a small sip. “I like you more when you’re like this.”

“Like what?”

“Not a raging bitch.”

I burst into laughter. Us sharing a moment feels good. Hunter walks inside, sniffing the air around me.

He takes the seat next to me. “Sex is not on the menu if I can’t get any.”

I slap his chest, pushing him playfully.

“I don’t understand the dynamic between you two,” Abigail says, studying us, and then leaves.

Hunter drops back against the couch and puts his feet on the table.

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