Page 36 of Stolen Kisses
When I got there, I saw someone who I’d never expected to see.
Maria.
She sat on the bench staring at the headstone.
Flynn wasn’t with her. She was just by herself and the low sun beamed off her hair making it shine like a halo on her head.
The last time we’d been here together was the actual funeral. We’d never come here together since, and we’d never spoken about that day when we found Christina dead.
We spoke about everything else—just not that, never that.
I moved to her and sat next to her.
She looked at me and tears instantly filled her eyes, then streamed down her cheeks. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Just more tears and her shoulders slumped like she couldn’t carry on the bravado that she had a handle on everything.
I knew the feeling well, because that was me too.
Some days were worse than others, but these days were unbearable.
When I put my arm around her, she leaned into my chest and clung to my shirt, breaking down.
“I should have taken better care of her.” Maria winced. “She was the only real friend I’d ever had.”
“You can’t blame yourself. We can’t blame ourselves.”
“It’s my fault though, people like her shouldn’t have gotten mixed up with people like me.” She pulled away but I kept my hold on her. “You blame me Dante.”
I shook my head. “I do not blame you. Never think that. I don’t blame you one bit. So, stop acting like I do.”
I looked her over and she started crying harder like hearing me say that was some release.
“I’m so sorry.”
I shook my head and pulled her back into my arms.
There we stayed just like that until the cover of night took over.
Still not talking about it.
It was however, the first time I didn’t feel so alone.
And today was a step in a direction.
Whatever that direction was I was yet to find out.
Yet to see where I’d be led to and what secrets would be exposed.
Chapter 10
Maria
* * *
The lights bounced off the walls—
Blue, green, yellow, pink. It reminded me of Vegas.
Like the splash of color dancing around the Bellagio or one of the other hotels.
