Page 21 of No Sweet Goodbyes

“Yeah,” he agrees. “I did teach you everything you know.”

I don’t deny it because he really is telling the truth. Linc and Danny both made sure that I can protect myself. And after he joined the Marine Corps and became a certified badass, he went above and beyond to make sure I know exactly what to do in any physical altercation. I feel pretty safe defending and protecting not only myself, but the people I care about, too.

“I love you too,” I say suddenly. “But it’s good. Day one down. A million more to go. I’m going to the academy in two weeks, though. So that’s exciting.”

“Two weeks?” Linc smiles at Vi when she drops by with a plate of food for him. “That’s short. I think the last rookie had to wait almost a year.”

“Yeah.” I swallow down some of my water. “Chief said that it was lucky. One of the other rookies pulled out or something like that.”

“Cool.” Linc nods. “That means you’re gonna be out of our hair for like five months or something like that.”

“Eighteen weeks.” I look down at my phone. “I gotta go. I’m exhausted and I want to check on Bee before I go home.”

“Oh,” Linc says when I slide out from the booth. “Dom said something about how his parents took Bianca to go shopping for clothes and stuff. He was stopping by there later to check on their animals while they’re gone for the night.”

That dashes my plans, and I think about sitting back down before changing my mind. “That’s okay. I’m gonna go home and get some rest, then. I’ll see you guys later.”

I pull some cash out of my pocket and leave it on the table for Vi, then leave Linc and Kennedy sitting together, immediately immersed in their own world.

I want that.

One day.

One day, I’ll get my life figured out, and I’ll have enough time to find someone who makes my entire world light up like all of the holidays there are all rolled into one. And the best part? That person is going to want me just as much as I want him.

When I get home, there is a moment where my heart aches when Bee’s blond hair isn’t shining from my front steps.

But she’s in a better place. One where she isn’t constantly looking over her shoulder or worried about her parents fighting. Or her father hurting her. One where she has a future shining brightly ahead of her.

She has a chance to be happy. And if I have to choose one of us to be happy, I’ll pick Bee. Every single day. She deserves nothing but sunshine and rainbows and the brightest freaking future there is.

It isn’t until I crawl into bed later that night that I plug my phone in and check the notifications.

Two messages sit side by side.

One from Eddie that came in right after I got home from Lucy’s.

Stryke Out: Hey. Can we talk?

The other from a number I don’t have saved in my phone, which has barely come in a few minutes before.

I really need to remember to take my phone off silent mode.

?: I’m sorry, Emma, for leaving last night. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It’s better that we keep it professional. Mama wanted me to send you this.

Attached to the message that can only be from Dom is a picture of Bee, with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen, passed out in the back seat of a vehicle, surrounded by bags from their shopping expedition.

“At least she’s happy.”

I stare at the message screen on my phone late into the night, and by the time I finally fall asleep, I make a decision.

One that I know I’ll most likely come to regret.

I’ve got a lifetime to make mistakes and I’ve got to start somewhere.

8

DOM

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