Page 69 of Craving You
“Thanks,” I say.“It’s… hard.We are managing.”
“The media has been up your ass for days,” he says.
“Eh.They are good company for when a psycho apparently meant to kill me and not Tris.”
“Oh?”he asks.
“Mhmm,” I say, rolling my eyes.“It’s dumb and complicated, but either way, they’ll have a sea of people to go through before they can get close to me.”
“I’m glad you have support,” he says.“You know you can call me if you need anything.”
“I know.Once things die down, you and I should go get coffee,” I say.
“I will hold you to it,” he smiles.
“There should be an extra seat if you want to sit with us,” I say.
“Sure,” he says.“Just point me in the direction.
“See the older couple in the front?”
“Uhhh… yeah,” he says.“That’s my mom and dad.Allison and Ted Belmont.Just tell them your name, and I’m sure they’ll recognize it.I’ve mentioned you.”
“Okay,” he says.“I’ll meet you up there.”
We wander a bit more before I end up at the front with Remy and Cam.Andrea and Ross are close but off to the side.They’re on high alert and are constantly scanning the room.
After a moment, everyone stops talking and looks at me.“Hi, everyone.Thank you for coming today to celebrate the life of Beatris Cooper.Tris was truly one of a kind and definitely unforgettable.She was the type whose laugh you could remember two weeks later.She had a bright and bubbly personality and could make anyone smile… I have thought about what I could say that would accurately reflect the person she was, but there aren’t words to describe just how special she was.She was a daughter, a sister, a best friend, a girlfriend, a boss, and anything anyone needed her to be.Her love language was making others happy, and boy was she good at it… Tris was incredible at her job and treated her employees with kindness and respect, no matter the situation.She was a shoulder to cry on and so much more.I could sit here all day and tell you all the adjectives that describe her, but it won’t be enough… She was fiercely protective of me, and I have not a single doubt in my mind that in her final moments she was still doing everything within her power to not only be a brat, but to protect me… She wasn’t supposed to die; I was.I will always remember that this should be my funeral, not hers.With that is the reminder that she willingly died so I could continue to have a chance at life.Because she knows I would have done the same thing for her, ten times over.She knew that no matter what, I would have protected her in my final moments…
“She told me once, ‘Lori, when I die, look for me in the clouds.When it rains, know that it’s me… pissing on everything,’” I say, and laughter breaks out across the room.I point to the large windows, and everyone sees that it is raining now.“No matter how close you were with her or how well you got along, find comfort in knowing that she will always be watching over us… I will live my life in her honor, but I can’t wait to see her again someday… If anyone has anything they would like to say, you can…”
A shot rings through the room and chaos erupts.One second, I am standing, and the next, I am flat on my back with Remington and Cameron shielding me.I am in shock, and my body is numb.Remy and Cam pull away, and I realize when Remy grabs my face that I am completely out of it.
“Talk to me, Lori.I need you to speak,” Remy says.
“Lorelei,” Cam says.
It’s Ross’ voice that snaps me out of my daze.“How bad is it?”
“It just grazed her.I need something to stop the bleeding, though.She’s losing a lot,” Cam says.
I look at my arm and see that I am covered in blood.“Woah,” I say.
“You want to sit up?They think you’re dead,” Cam says.
“Help me stand,” I say.
“Ambulance is on its way,” Ross says.When I stand, everyone claps.
“I know everyone is freaked out, but I need everyone to find a seat.No one is leaving until we get statements,” Andrea says.
“Someone shot me,” I say.
“They only grazed you because Cam shoved you,” Remy says.
“You both shoved her,” Ross says.“Lorelei?”
“Hmm?”I ask.
