Page 48 of Unravel Me

He walks up close to me and pulls my hand away from my mouth.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Cover your laugh.”

“It’s terrible!”

“It’s the best sound I’ve ever heard, and I love it.”

He steps close enough that our toes are touching, his hand still clasped around my wrist between us. His thumb rubs aimlessly back and forth at my pressure point, igniting heat throughout my body. I meet his eyes and study his face. I’ve known this boy since we were eleven and twelve years old. The last six years has brought a lot of different looks from him, but I’ve seen this look on his face before. I just saw it reflected on his dad’s face as he looked at his mom. He reaches up and drags the back of his knuckles down my cheek and across my jaw.

“How am I looking at you now?”

“I . . .”

“Like you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen? Like the world would come to a complete standstill if you weren’t in it? Like you’re the only girl I’ll ever love? Like you hung the moon?”

I close my eyes and lean into his touch, resting my forehead against his.

“I love you, Sawyer.”

“Good. ’Cause I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”

At what point did I forget that? At what point did I start to question his love for me? I wipe away the tears as they fall.Sawyer only ever had eyes for me from the moment we met. He never wavered.

But most importantly, he always made me feel loved for simply just existing.

He never asked anything of me.

Never asked me to change.

He just loved me. For me. No questions. No expectations.

I know that truth down to the marrow of my bones as an image of Sawyer standing here yesterday flashes through my mind. The look on his face as he stared at me.

It was relief.

And love.

“Ivy, we need to talk. This is going to be really difficult for you to hear, but it’s important that you have all the facts.”

“Okay . . . what is it, Mom?”

“I overheard a conversation today between Sawyer and his father.”

“Okay?”

“You didn’t get into the University of Washington by yourself, honey.”

“Yes I did. What are you trying to say, Mom?”

Her words aren’t making any sense. I got my admission letter a week after Sawyer did. I read it myself. I accepted my admission to go there.

“You didn’t, though. Sawyer was worried you two would be separated. He has to stay in Aspen Ridge because of the distillery. His dad made a phone call, it’s his alma mater. I heard Sawyer thanking him and them discussing it. I’m sorry, Ivy. I know this is probably hard to hear. Men will do whatever it takes to keep the things they want. Remember that. This is a lesson.”

My heart sinks.

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