Chapter 125
When she slapped me, the crack of her palmi against my cheek had been like lightning bolt of clarity. I knew I’d lost her forever. I knew that nothing I could say or do would ever make her forgive me again.
So I didn’t try to explain. How could 17 How could I tell her that I’d spent months confused about my own feelings, that I’d been too much of a coward to face the truth about what she meant to me?
1 left her apartment that night and didn’t go home. I couldn’t face those empy rooms, couldn’t bear to smell her lingering presence when I knew she’d
never be there again.
Instead, I went back to the bar and kept drinking until everything went black
I woke up the next morning at Orion’s house, sprawled on his couch with a hangover that felt like someone was taking a slee
That’s where I’d been waking up every morning for the past few weeks sometimes on his couch, sometimes in his guest
crushing weight of shame and regret.
my skull.
that same
Orion hadn’t said anything about my constant presence in his house. I knew he was giving me time to grieve in my own way, probably thinking this was all about Jess and the anniversary of her death that just passed. He was being the kind of friend who gives you space to fall apart without judgment.
But Sarah, my ever–perceptive sister, couldn’t turn a blind eye. She’d always been too smart for her own good, too willing to call people on their bullshit
when everyone else was being polite.
Hours
ago,
1
she’d called and told me we needed to talk. Her voice had that no–nonsense tone that meant I wasn’t getting out of this conversation.
We’d met at my apartment, and she’d taken one look around – at the empty bottles, the unmade bed, the general air of depression that clung to everything and cut straight to the heart of it.
“What’s going on with you?” she’d asked, settling onto my couch like she was prepared to stay as long as it took.
I’d tried to play dumb, shrugging and mumbling something about being tired.
“Is it because of her?” she’d asked, and my blood had turned to ice.
‘Her? Who? I’d asked, though we both knew exactly who she meant.
Sarah had rolled her eyes at my pathetic attempt at deflection. “You’re not stupid, Tristan. You know exactly who I’m referring to.”
I hadn’t said anything. What could I say? That I’d been thinking about Athena every waking moment? That I missed her so much it felt like a physical
illness?
‘Let me say something, and you’re going to listen,” Sarah acting really stupid right now.”
ad continued, her voice taking on that authoritative tone she’d perfected as a mother. “You’re
I’d raised my head sharply, meeting her gaze. Nobody talked
to
an Alpha that way, not even family.
what you’re thinking, and I’m sorry for speaking to you like that. But someone needs to talk
But Sarah had matched my stare without flinching. “I
some sense into you.
I don’t know if Orion is trying not to lose your friendship by staying quiet, but whatever you’re doing isn’t just hurting you. It’s hurting him, it’s hurting me, and it’s hurting Athena too. Can’t you see that?”
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20.33 Thu, Jan 8
Chapter 125
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understand, Nanthing standing to pace, I wantinggitated, restless, and wanting to run from this b
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