Page 138 of The Road Less Traveled By

Is he doing my entire night routine?I’d be surprised, but of course, Vince knows every step. He’s that attentive, and I just fell a little bit more in love with him.

When we walk back out to his old room, Nico is standing there with a few bags packed, his face lifting as soon as we come out.

“Are you guys ready?”

I look between the two of them, confused.

“We’re heading to Liv and Tristan’s house. Teags is meeting us there. Connie too,” Vince tells me. “Just to get ahead of things, and I don't want you going back in that room if you don’t have to.”

I smile softly at him before I mouth a ‘thank you’ to him, and he kisses my forehead.

Nico leaves the room, and as I go to follow suit, Vince stops me. “No matter what’s thrown our way by the media, the internet, and the chaos of our lives, I’ll love you through it all, Bree. We’ll do this together going forward, and I can’t wait to love you for the rest of our lives.”

“I love you, Vince. And I’m glad I’m still here to be able to tell you that. Thank you.”

A single tear falls from his eye before I wipe it away. We head to the car where Nico is packing our bags into the back, and as I take in the state of the house that protected me for four years, the house that saw me at my best and worst, I wave goodbye.

It was good to me, but it’s time to leave the past where it should remain.

And the future has never looked brighter for me, especially when Vince slides into the back seat and threads his fingers through mine. He’smy future now, and together, we’ll build a home full of light, laughter, and love.

“Are you two lovebirds ready?” Nico asks us from the front seat.

“We’re ready,” I whisper, and Vince squeezes my hand three times as we drive away.

Chapterforty-three

One Month Later

— GET WELL SOON BY ARIANA GRANDE

“Uhh, this one?” Isay as I hand Bree a book.

“Oh, everyone has been telling me I need to read this one. Great choice, babe!” she says as she adds to it the pile. “November is going to be a month of variety, thanks to Vince.”

I’m not used to being in front of the camera, but I’d do anything to see her beautiful smile. She asked if I wanted to film a video for her channel, so that’s exactly what we’re doing. Apparently, she’s hard launching our relationship to the world.

I had to ask her what that meant, and she explained it to me without making too many jokes. Now, though, Nico keeps making fun of how old I am. He’s only three years younger than me, so if I’m old, then what is he? That fucker still pushes my buttons, but he is my best friend, so I guess that’s what he’s supposed to do.

“Okay, how about you pick three more? I usually read ten to twenty books a month, and we’re only at ten. I think I can handle a few more.”

I’m standing in front of her specialized shelf in Liv’s guest room. We’ve been living here for a month as we search for a home of our own. As soon as we hear from our realtor, we’ll be out of their hair and finally starting a life together. I cannot fucking wait. I’ve grown way closer toher sister and Tristan, but I know we’re all itching to get our privacy back. I know Bree and I miss Nellie, too. She’s staying with my sister until we get back on our feet.

I hate moving around with Nell this much. I know dogs need a stable place, and my entire life has been unstable. Now, Bree and I are building a home together, and Nell will finally have a permanent place to call home, with a yard big enough for her to play and roll around.

As for Ralph, he’s officially back in a supermax prison. That motherfucker will never see freedom again, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s theleasthe deserves for what he put Bree through.

All the hired help he had is also in prison. The four fuckers got sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for being accomplices.

This is the first regular video Bree is uploading after everything happened. Two weeks ago, she uploaded an unedited, hour-long video telling her entire story. She didn't leave a single thing out, and I couldn't be prouder of how she handled it.

She didn't let her parents tell her story for her, and now, her version—the correct one—is out in the world. News outlets called her brave for the video, and her followers have been nothing but kind to her.

Bree is also starting a foundation for survivors. She brought the idea to Connie last week, and she loved it. It’s the perfect way to shift the narrative off Ralph, and onto all the good Bree can do helping other survivors.

I’m so fucking proud of my girl.

There’s been a few tough moments, of course. Bree still has nightmares, and she wakes up the whole house when she screams, but instead of just me being there to calm her down, Liv and Tristan are there to help.

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