Page 115 of No Way Home
“Thank you,” Lemon whispered in a reverent hush. I didn’t know how her eyes could be full of pain and joy at the same time, but they were. It was probably the most bittersweet moment of her life.
Griffin scanned the group, his smile fading. I ducked behind Abilene, using her as a shield. “Where’s…” Then his gaze snagged on Bowen, hovering by the couch. Griff’s expression shifted—serious but fierce. He took a step toward Bowen, and the group broke apart, letting him through.
Stomach knotted with nerves, I rested my chin on my bestie’s shoulder, scared to watch, but needing to see.
Griff stopped in front of Bowen. They stared at each other, no words. I couldn’t see Griff’s face anymore; his back was to us. But Bowen looked more apprehensive than I’d ever seen him. The room went nervously quiet. Then Griffin’s shoulders shuddered, and he released a pain-filled sob. He tugged Bowen against him, crushing him in a hug. All the fear rushed out of me in one large exhale, right along with everyone else.
Arms pinned to his side, Bowen’s eyes flew open, even more surprised than before.
“I’m so sorry,” Griffin cried. “I’ve been stubborn and prideful and…” Another shudder. “Can you forgive me?”
But Bowen was looking over Griff’s shoulder, at me. I’d never seen him more conflicted. Or confused. Either way, it was clear he thought hugging Griff meant betraying me.
As my eyes welled and Bowen went blurry, I smiled, pressed a hand to my heart, nodded, and mouthed our code,Wah-hoo-wah.Then I blew him a kiss.
Wah-hoo-wah, he said back, letting himself smile. With that done, he pulled his arms free and wound them around Griffin’s back, hugging him so tight. The relief on his face was something I knew I’d never forget. “We’re good. I love you, brother. Always.”
Griffin didn’t reply—he just curled around Bowen, crying without reservation, the dam of old wounds splitting wide open.
I set my bags at Abbie’s feet, feeling somehow heavier without their weight. Then I reached into my pocket and handed her the credit card. “Give this to Ford, please,” I whispered.
Her head cocked sideways, eyes down-turned. “Maggie,” was all she said, but I could see that she understood.
“Thanks.” I smiled to show I was okay. In actuality, I was anything but.
I gave Bowen a longing glance, but he was talking to Griff, wearing a huge grin. Then I turned and walked back the way I’d come.
I held back the tears until I was outside. But once they started, I couldn’t make them stop. My phone vibrated in my pocket all the way up Lee Street, over to University Avenue, and across The Lawn. It vibrated one more time as I collapsed onto the bench of the Whispering Wall.
I stared up at the sky, the sunrise just beginning to break through the darkness and welcome in a new day. Then I whispered, hoping this parabolic arc would carry my words all the way to heaven, “I wish you were here, Mom. I could really use a hug right now.” I felt nothing. Not a nearness, no peaceful feeling telling me it would be okay. But it didn’t matter.
I knew what I had to do.
I pulled out my cell, but I didn’t read Bowen’s texts. They would only make this harder. I simply sent him one of my own.
Then I powered down my phone.
Chapter Forty-One
BOWEN
As my familychowed down on the food Magnolia had brought, I glanced around, a pit in my stomach. Where was she?
We hadn’t been a couple long enough to face something this big, and yet, here we were. I was torn—worried about what would happen if she came back and Griff saw her. But I was even more terrified of what would happen if she didn’t come back. Magnolia had always been the type to set herself on fire just to keep everyone else warm.
And I could already smell the smoke.
I would’ve asked Abilene where Magnolia was, but she’d disappeared after dropping off the food and was probably already back at their apartment sleeping. Wherever that was. I hadn’t even added Magnolia to Find My Friends yet.
I studied Griff out of my peripheral, wedged between me and Cash on the couch. He seemed different. Aside from spending at least three hours at the gym every day, getting a slick haircut, and growing some scruff, he was…calm, even with the tenseness of the situation. He watched the family eating, eyes soft, looking grateful to be here.
But then he glanced at Liam, who was eyeing him like avillain about to twirl a mustache and tie him to the train tracks. Griff snorted as he chewed his omelet.
Cash leaned his knee against Griff’s. “Y’all need to fix…whatever this is.”
Griff snorted again. “I can’t deal with Liam and his insecurities right now. My brother is…” He didn’t finish. Just blew out his breath like it was painful to think about James.
“How was Vegas?” Cash asked him.
