A part of me wants to tell her about the loops, about my own survivors’ guilt, but I don’t. It would be selfish.
For their part, the brothers don’t invade our space, but I can hear them all outside the door.
“All of them?” Veronica asks on the cusp of sleep. “If only Auggie could see you now.” She laughs around a big yawn.
“Isn’t it weird? You don’t think Tripp and Auggie would hate me for this, do you?”
Veronica’s eyes flutter shut. “No, both of those boys wanted you to be happy. Hell they even joked about you being with the other brothers more times than I can count. Maybe they knew they didn’t have much longer and wanted to set you up for your own happiness. Or maybe they were just—” A yawn cuts her off. “Thank you, Sunday. For being here, for everything. I love you.”
“I love you too.” And I do. Veronica is someone who has risked herself time and time again and again for others. She is selfless. She is sweet and kind. She is strong. And I know that no matter what happens, she will always hold a place in my heart. I will always consider her family.
Soft snores break through my thoughts, and it isn’t but a second later that I hear the door open and close.
“Axel,” I warn.
“It’s me.”
Rolling carefully over, I find Grayson’s eyes watching me.
“Grayson?”
He leans down, gently brushing my hair back, before pressing his lips tenderly to mine. Even outside of the restaurant, away from the water, the smell of the marina carries with him. The salt and diesel swirling hypnotically. He is trapping me in this moment with him, keeping my full attention, as his pillowed lips move against mine. My heartbeat ramps up, my previous calm replaced by a frenzy of energy.
He separates, pressing his cool forehead to mine. “I won’t stay in here, I will give you two space. I’m making Darius and Axel get some sleep, God knows they need it. But I will be right outside. And I won’t go anywhere.”
I have my doubts that either Darius or Axel will listen to him, but I don’t argue. “Are you okay? What about your mother?”
Grayson gently pulls back. “We didn’t see her, but it sounds like she’s going to be placed in a mental health facility. That’s the direction her defense will push at least. Maybe one day in the future I will go see her, but…” He rakes a hand through his hair, standing back up to his full height. “I don’t think she will ever be a part of our lives again. It’s just the three of us now.” He smiles down at me. “The four of us.”
“What about…” I turn my head to make sure Veronica is still asleep. “What about my parents? The blackmail. Will they be able to come home now?” I’m not sure if I want them to.
“I called them earlier. Let them know that Sterling is dead. They’re coming back. They love and care about you, Sunday. They checked in with me nearly every day about you. They were just scared to contact you directly. Afraid it would mean putting you in the Thornes cross-fire.”
My stomach twists up into a painful cluster of knots. I don’t know how I feel about my parents.
But I need to speak to them.
“Get some sleep. I’ll be right outside if you need me.” Grayson’s lips brush my forehead before he walks silently out of the room, quietly shutting the door.
I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep, but it isn’t but a few beats later that my eyelids grow heavy, my breathing evens, and the weight of the day catches up with me.
50
October 13th
“It’s time to decide.”
Blinking rapidly, I turn on my heel. Mirrors. They surround me.
My image reflected one hundred times. I am wearing what I went to sleep in.
Attempting to move forward, my face slams into glass.
“Patience.” The voice rolls across my spine, raising goosebumps in its wake.
My fingernails dig into my palms as I wait. The mirrors shimmer and shift. Now instead of my pajamas, I’m wearing a dress. The same one I wore to Tripp and Auggie’s memorial.
The image changes again. Now I am the girl who went to Maxwell’s party.
