Page 57 of Heatwaves

Certainly not.

There’s no way we’re fated mates.

And yet, something warms inside my chest at the thought. A part of me that’s been yearningfor years, a pain that I couldn’t soothe. A pain that only worsened when I saw the four of them again.

Fuck.

They really are my fated mates, aren’t they?

Licking my lips, I swallow around a dry mouth before grabbing the water bottle and chugging the rest of it. I can feel four sets of eyes on me, but not five.

No, Ty seems unable to lift his head to meet my gaze.

“Well, that’s certainly a story…“ I trail off, glancing at Ty again.

I just don’t know what to say or how to deal with the information they’ve just given me.

“It’s not a story,” Carter says carefully. “It’s what happened. Do you really think we’d be able to come up with a story this unbelievable?”

I shake my head. “No, I guess not. It’s just…it’s insane. You realize that, don’t you? I’d have to be crazy to believe what you’re saying.”

“But you do, don’t you?” Aidan asks, grinning.

I want to deny his words, but how can I? I do believe them.

“If it makes you feel better, Lil, I think they’re telling the truth.” Wyatt’s words don’t surprise me.

“Okay, yeah. I believe you—even if it makes no sense.”

Ty clears his throat, drawing my attention back to him even as he keeps his eyes locked on the floor. “Do you think you can ever forgive us?”

And isn’t that the real question?

It doesn’t change the pain they caused me. It doesn’t change the last ten years that I’ve been miserable or all the people I’ve pushed away.

It doesn’t change how I’ve treated Wyatt because of how badly they hurt me.

Does it really change anything at all?

“I don’t know,” I finally say, shaking my head. “I just don’t know.”

Silence follows my response, and I hate the way Ty seems to collapse before my eyes.

I don’t want to hurt him. Hell, I don’t want to hurt any of them, but I can’t give them the answer they want me to.

Not now.

Maybe not ever.

Tears burn at the back of my eyes, and I take a deep breath. I don’t want to cry in front of them.

I don’t want them to know just how much they hurt me—just how much I’m still hurting.

I need time to process everything they’ve said to me. I can’t do that with them sitting here.

“I know that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. You’ve given me a lot to think about, and that’s exactly what I need to do. For that to happen, I need time.” My breath stutters as their faces fall. It’s only Wyatt taking my hand in his that gives me the strength to continue. “You need to give me time to figure out how I feel about all of this and if it changes everything. I can’t do that if you’re around. I’m sorry.

“Thank you for telling me the truth and for being patient while I decided if I was ready to hear you out or not. With that being said, I’m asking for you not to contact me—to allow me time to figure all of this out on my own. If and when I feel like I can, I’ll reach out. But that’s all I can offer you right now, and I ask you to please honor my wishes.”

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