Page 4 of Unsteady in Love

“We both are. We don’t get to spend much time together,” he answered, eyes dreamy at the notion of his girlfriend.

Seeing how much he loved Alex made me want to cry. I missed that feeling. I missed being in the arms of a man and having someone to talk to.

“Hey, are you okay?” Luke asked with concern etched on his face.

“It’s been a hard few days,” I answered back softly.

Or months. Or years.

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “If you’re okay, I’ll leave you be. Is there anything you need?”

“No, but thank you.”

Walking Luke to the door, he stopped and stared at something on the table by the door for a moment before turning back to me. “If you need anything, we’re right next door. Don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thanks.” I tried to give him a reassuring smile. “Again, it was nice meeting you.”

“You too.”

Heading back to my bedroom, I buried my head in my pillow and screamed. Why did Holden have to show up at one of the worst times in my life?

I screamed and cried at the gaping hole that had been left in my heart now that my dad was gone and from seeing Holden again.

My doorbell rang for the second time that day and I swore to myself that if it was Holden, I would call the police on him. Had he waited until Luke was gone to come back?

Opening the door, I was surprised to see Alex standing there. She was beautiful as always, but today she had a glow about her. One that I was sure Luke had put there. When our eyes locked, I saw the tears she was holding back.

Staying silent, I headed back to my bedroom. It was the only room I could be in without seeing my dad’s ghost. Crawling up on the bed, I curled into a ball.

“Prue, sweetie. Are you okay? Is there anything I can do for you? Luke told me about your dad,” she said barely above a whisper, rubbing my back.

“Can you bring him back, cancer free?” I asked brokenly.

“I wish I could.” Picking up my hand, she held it as I cried silently. “I’m so sorry, Prue. He was such a great man, and I’m going to miss him. Can I make you a cup of tea or anything?”

“No, I don’t want anything but to be left to mourn my father in peace.”

“Who was that guy who was here earlier? Do we need to be worried about him?” she asked curiously.

Turning into my pillow, I cried out. Alex rubbed up and down my back, trying her best to soothe me. Little did she know there was nothing that could have made the hurt go away. I’d been trying for the past three and a half years.

“What is it, sweetie?”

“It’s Holden,” I sobbed. The memories of our time together flashed before me until they were finished. Gone. Just like he was gone that day. “He’s back for some reason and showed up here demanding to speak to me. Saying he was already here and heard about my dad.”

“Who is he to you?”

“The man who broke my heart,” I cried out. “I don’t want to talk about him though. I don’t want to remember what he did to me.”

“Do I need to be worried that he’ll come back?”

Turning toward her, I promised, “He’s not violent if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I wasn’t sure what to think.” Wrapping me in her arms, she let me cry on her shoulder until there were no more tears left to cry.

“Um…I hate to bring this up now,” she looked at me sheepishly. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since I got back from Mexico, but I’m moving.”

“What? Really? Where? When?” I giggled, and it made her smile. “Oh, gosh, listen to me and all my questions.”

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