Page 31 of Rejected Heart

And I wasn’t sure I would ever be okay.

“I’ll be fine,” I lied.

“I think we all know that you’ll be fine eventually, but I’m worried about you,” she shared. “This had to be so difficult for you, Liam.”

Difficult wasn’t quite the word I would have used to describe it.

I lifted my hand to the back of my neck and wiped at the sweat. I’d gone from feeling nothing but cold settle over me to this. Was it panic? Or was it simply the realization that I didn’t know anything about the woman I’d hoped to marry? Maybe it was both.

I couldn’t make eye contact with my sister, and forsome reason, the restraint I’d had for the last few hours had become unleashed.

“I don’t think she understands,” I revealed.

“Understands what?”

I continued to rub at the back of my neck, now actively trying to massage the tension out. “I don’t think Layla understands how much I love her.”

“She knows, Liam. Trust me. She was the center of your world. It would be impossible for her not to know what she means to you.”

Shaking my head, I lifted my gaze to her. “If that’s true, why did she leave?”

Jules must have seen something in my expression that suggested I was barely hanging on, because she stood and moved toward me. The second I felt her arms come around me, I hugged her back, holding on tighter than ever.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “We’re going to get you through this, Liam.”

“I love her so much,” I croaked.

My sister’s arms squeezed me tighter. “I know you do. It’s no secret to anyone how much you adore her. Even Layla can’t deny that fact.”

“What am I going to do without her?”

Jules stroked her hand up and down my back. “We’re going to take it one day at a time. And you’re going to give her some time. You might just need to cope for a few days. That’s all.”

I wanted to be hopeful. I wanted to trust what Jules was saying, because it would mean I’d have Layla back.But I knew better. Layla wasn’t coming back. “You weren’t there, Jules. I’m telling you; this isn’t about her needing time. She’s…. There’s something else. What did I miss?”

Loosening her hold on me, Jules took a step back and curled her fingers around the front of my arms. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t know what happened with Layla, but I know she didn’t just give up because she felt like you didn’t care for her. Do you know what I’ve told myself for years?”

“No. What have you told yourself?”

“I realize I’m only sixteen right now, but for at least the last two years, I’ve really been paying attention and watching you with her. It always makes me happy to see. And the only thing I keep telling myself is that if I can find someone who loves me even half as much as you love Layla, I’ll be the luckiest girl in the world.”

As gut-wrenching as this had been, I still believed my sister deserved to experience love the way I had. Or the way I thought I had. But if I could have my say, I’d never want her to know what this felt like. I’d never want her to be subjected to this kind of pain and agony.

“You’ll find someone who will give you that, Jules,” I promised her. “I don’t doubt that for one second.”

She offered a small smile in return. “And I know this isn’t the end for you. It might take some time to get this figured out, but unless there’s something that Layla was hiding, there’s no way she’s never coming back.”

Though I didn’t feel happy, I appreciated my sister’s optimism. I didn’t want to crush her hopefulspirit. So, I returned the smile and said, “I hope you’re right.”

“I am.”

I finished getting my bag packed, went downstairs, and saw the sadness and worry on my parents’ faces. My mom held out a bag filled to the brim with food for more than just a day or two and said, “Dad called over to the hotel. They’ll have a suite ready for you when you get there.”

“Thanks.”

Stepping forward, my dad clapped his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “We’re sorry, Liam. If there’s anything we can do to help you through this, all you’ve got to do is ask.”

Jerking my chin down with acknowledgement, I said, “I know. Thanks, Dad.”

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