Page 48 of Swan

But I’d cut them off.

Even Mum, Dad, and Nicky.

Today, I would stop.

Today, I would try to open up again.

But do you deserve to try and move on?

You should feel this guilt, this pain, forever.

You killed him.

It’s your fault.

No.

No.

No.

I couldn’t listen to that part of me.

At least, I’d try not to, and when those thoughts did overwhelm me, I’d reach out to someone.

Drawing in a breath, I blew it out slowly as I hoped I’d listen to my new resolve.

Even when I knew it would be hard.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Let’s just run in there quickly and tell Coyote your car will be in the lot,” Maya suggested when I parked.

“No problem.” It was a problem, though. Drake was probably there, and I wasn’t ready to talk to him. I should be, though. He was my friend, and I’d hurt his feelings by pushing him away. Literally and figuratively.

I shouldn’t be nervous walking in here.

This was ridiculous.

Silly.

These were my people. My friends.

Cowboy stood behind the counter. “Hey, Maya, you’re back again. Hi, Swan. What can I do for you both?”

I waved to him while Maya leaned into the counter. “Can you tell my brother?—”

“Which one?”

“Both or either one of them. We’re leaving Swan’s car in the lot, and we’ll be back for it.”

“I just remembered Drake left anyway. He’s got a client booked in at Texas’s. But I’ll let Coyote know.”

Drake was going to be at Texas’s tattoo studio. I’d forgotten he started apprenticing there a few months ago, and that was between working in the garage and helping his brother here. He must have natural talent to gain a client already.

Good for him.

Though my belly still twisted from nerves at facing him. It shouldn’t. I knew he’d understand why I had, but pushing him away was still rude when he’d just wanted to help.

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