Page 256 of Unexpected Hero

She pats me on one shoulder, leans close, and shouts, “She had her friend with her, so she was in good hands. If she’s mad at you, my advice is to give her some time. Text her that you’re thinking of her and want to talk. Give her a day or two to come around. No good ever came out of trying to reason with an upset drunk woman.”

“She was drunk?”

She shrugs and raises her palms to the sides. “She didn’t seem so, but she’s crying at a club. There’s a good chance she’s drunk by now.”

“Thank you. If you see her again, tell her I was here.” At the last minute, I add something I’ve never spoken. “And that I love her.”

Her face softens, her lip jutting in a pout. “Go home, young man. I wish you luck.” She turns to go, re-entering the bathroom with a melodic song bellowing from her lungs. “La-dies, you need to hur-ry up and pee-pee.”

I shake it off and process what I said.

I’ve thought the words plenty of times. But until I said them aloud, it didn’t seem as real.

Can it be true? Am I capable of loving someone? Me? In love?

Yeah. I am.

I’m fucking in love with Violet Holt.

The rightness of that sentence blends painfully with the agony of knowing it’s probably too late. By the time I get the courage to tell Lettie to her face, she’ll have decided she’s done with me.

I always knew this day would come. A woman like her would never settle for a man like me.

She’s probably moving on already. If not now, soon. Tonight’s taking time to think is one step closer to goodbye.

On the way to my car, I scan the lot for the car Dante described as Vanessa’s.No sign of it.

They’re gone.

For a second, I wonder if Vanessa is driving before quickly shaking it off. Freya would never let Vanessa drive them while intoxicated, given her sister was killed by a drunk driver.

Lettie’s not here. Maybe it’s for the best. Forcing her to see me and talk before she was ready would have been a mistake.

At least she’s with Freya. She’ll take care of her for me. I can wait.

Before I drive home, I send that text the lady from the bathroom told me to send.

Me

Sugar bear, I’m sorry for upsetting you. I’ll explain everything whenever you’re ready to see me again. I’ll wait for you, giving you the space you asked for. But I’ll be thinking of you. I miss you so much. Come see me whenever you want. I’ll always be here for you.

And then I send one more.

Me

Freya was right. I’m in love with you.

Chapter 48

Please be a bad dream

LETTIE

As I rouse from the deepest sleep of my life, the first thing I notice is a headache.

As I struggle to come to, I decide headache might be putting it mildly. This is more like a jackhammer cracking through my skull.

I’m nauseous too. Sandpaper has replaced my throat. And it’s entirely possible I fell asleep with a mouth full of cotton.

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