Page 5 of Your Soul to Keep

I needed to make new memories. Now, I had Harley, Noelle, Bridge, and sweet Wren. To a lesser extent, I also had Daire, Hawkley, and Max, most of whom I knew in some capacity back in high school before I moved to Mistlevale.

Moving and changing high schools in grade eleven did little to help my social life. Or my grades. Spiraling in my grief, I had to repeat the semester, putting me behind my peers and further isolating me.

Not that I’d been a straight A student or a social butterfly in Sage Ridge, but at least I had the swim team and my best friend Quinn.

And him.

Mistlevale had been my home base since my father passed, but Sage Ridge was my home.

I’d only returned twice in all the years since I left. Seeing him move on ensured I never looked back again.

Until now.

The first time I ventured out to Sage Ridge after running into Harley, I made it only as far as the stop sign leading into town.

Now, I rolled right through it, flicking the indicator toward good food, good friends, and the endless laughter that awaited me at Susie Q’s.

I smiled to myself.

Anticipation unfurled her lazy bones and stretched.

My girls were crazy-wonderful.

Who knew where the night might go?

2

Zero Chill

Bridgelinkedherarmthrough mine and barrelled down the sidewalk. “I’m fucking freezing,” she complained.

“Well, it’s fucking cold,” I answered.

Swinging the door open, we clambered through.

Bridge’s entire body convulsed with her shiver as she stomped the snow off her feet. “Is this ever going to melt?”

“It’s March. We’ve got at least a month. This far north, maybe two,” Susie answered, throwing her arm around Bridge and easing her away from the door. “Come away from the cold.”

Releasing her, Susie turned to me, taking both of my cold hands in hers. “It’s good to see you, Shae darlin’.”

“It’s good to see you, too, Mama S,” I murmured. “How is Quinn?”

“Oh, you know, keeping on keeping on. Do you ever hear from her?”

I shook my head. “No, but that’s my fault. I left everyone behind when I left Sage Ridge.”

Her face fell. “That wasn’t your fault, Shae darlin.’ Only so much a soul can take.” She looked over my shoulder before turning back to me. “Um—”

“Come on,” Bridge seized my hand. “I see Max. Let’s go say ‘hi’.”

Rolling my eyes, I smiled at Susie and allowed Bridge to guide me over to Max’s table.

“Hey, Max. Introduce me to your handsome friends.”

My head snapped up, my jaw dropped, and I stood, red-faced and mute, before the one who broke my heart.

The one whose heart I broke.

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