Page 85 of The Burnt Heart

It was from Jesse but meant from all of them. I tossed my phone into my bag with a scowl, frustrated at the wave of butterflies that swept through me. I followed Lara downstairs and into the waiting car. Jonah nodded at us from the front seat, his eyes dulling as Lara avoided his gaze. It would take time for her to work out her relationship dramas as well. The smile I gave him was tight, lost in my thoughts. I didn’t like to think of myself as scared, but it was true. I was terrified of being hurt. Now I flirted with the edge of a decision, letting my stomach swoop before I skittered away.

Loving is risking. So, was I ready to take a risk?

We pulled up at Calder Place Community Center, and I felt a strange mix of pride and sadness. It was coming together amazingly. The community center’s roof swooped in an elegant line and the windows showed a basketball court that I knew would be an instant favorite. This space was a boon for the community. But I felt conflicted. A heavy lump floated in my stomach. It used to look like an overgrown dump. But I’d met my three soul mates in that mess. The only people who had been able to touch me so deeply. Loss whipped through me, a hollow wind tunnel. I’d destroyed this special place.

“It should be ready within a few weeks. Come around and look at the sculpture,” Lara explained.

I shook off my regrets and followed her around the side, my mouth dropping open at what I saw. In the place where our tree used to stand, there was a huge metal structure. In the shape of a tree. The branches twined upwards. They were bare, like itwas winter. Around the base was greenery and the beginnings of vines creeping up the trunk.

“Oh, it’s lovely,” I choked out, hurrying toward it.

“The plants will grow all the way up, so it’ll hopefully be entirely green. Do you like it?”

I palmed the trunk, admiring the way it emulated the texture of bark. Then I froze. Inside the tree was a cutout, covered by glass. There was a metal plaque on the inside, lit by a tasteful light.

In memory of Antoni

Always loved, never forgotten.

“This is beautiful.” I reached out and hovered my fingers near the glass. I had buried my father at the greenhouse, beside my mom. But this was special. A reminder that out of loss, something beautiful can grow. I wasn’t there yet. I still missed my phone ringing for his checkup, his barely concealed frustration as he muttered under his breath. His embrace. The sharp edge of grief sliced through me deeply. But the generous love of my guys blunted it. They insisted on keeping me busy, knowing instinctively that I shouldn’t be left alone with the weight of my despair for too long.

“That’s not all.” Lara smiled softly, tugging at my elbow to show me the other side. There was a similar glass cutout, only this one housed the wooden slab with our initials that Briar had kept in his room. Mounted like it was part of the tree. I couldn’t stop myself from plastering my hands on the glass this time.

“H-how?” I looked at Lara through watery eyes. She wrapped her arms around my waist.

“Your guys came to me with an idea and I’m sorry. I couldn’t say no. If you want it gone, I will organize to have it torn down. Just say the word,” Lara explained. I pulled her into a quick side hug.

“No, I love it.” I stared at it, biting my lip so the pain would distract me from the rush of emotions coursing through me. There were three matching inhales, and I turned to see Briar, Logan, and Jesse standing behind us. My heart ached at the sight of them, as if I hadn’t been in their presence just hours before. Emotion rushed through my veins, heady and dizzying.

“You love it?” Briar asked, his eyes glowing. Lara leaned into me and whispered.

“This is your chance to grow something new, better than before. Be brave.”

As she twisted away, I pinched her hip. Wise and knowing Lara was a pain in my ass. She told too many truths I didn’t want to hear. But I was grateful to have a friend to call me out on my shit. She was right. I had to decide now. This constant state of limbo wasn’t fair on any of us. And to be honest, it was fear holding me back. It clung to my insides, weighing me down.

Adelaide Orazio wasn’t going to be conquered by fear. My shoulders slid back as I looked at my guys.

“I love it, just like I love you.” I rested my hand on the trunk, looking at the engraving with a rueful smile. “This sculpture is just like we are. It’s different, past, and present, wrapped in one. It’s the future, with room for growth and life.” I fingered the plants that were twining around the base.

“What are you saying, siren?” Logan breathed, hope flickering like candlelight in his eyes.

“I want a future with you. A new start. And I want a big, sparkly rock.” I couldn’t help the stupid grin that exploded over my face. An enormous weight melted off my shoulders. I didn’t wait for them to say they wanted this. They had always been waiting for me. I folded myself into Logan’s arms and pulled his shell-shocked face down to me, kissing him deeply. His arms convulsed around my waist, and he made a keening sound, burying his head in my neck.

“Am I dreaming right now?” he whispered fiercely. I pulled back, fighting against his tightening arms.

“I can’t give you up. Seeing the gun pointed at you destroyed me. I can’t fight it anymore. But things must change. We weren’t honest with each other. We were holding on to insecurities and it tore us apart.”

Logan framed my face with his giant hands and looked at me with adoration. Warmth trickled through me at the press of his body against mine.

“I will continue doing the work, siren. I’m never losing you again.”

“Not even to see the world?” Just once more, I asked.

“There is no place in the world that can rival the universe I see in your eyes,” he whispered, and I melted. Jesse snaked his arm around me and pulled me away from Logan. He didn’t give me a chance to speak before his lips descended on mine. Flames followed the path of his tongue, scorching heat raced through me. Burning away all the remnants of pain I felt. Tears hovered on my lash line, but I blinked them away. I could feel the force of emotion, the strength of his love as he poured it into me.

“Thank you for giving us this chance, princess.” He leaned his forehead against mine.

“I still can’t give you a family,” I whispered. His lashes fluttered, tickling my skin.

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