Page 139 of The Devil's Deal

My heart skips a beat, and my belly scatters with butterflies.

“Never,” I say with complete affection. Complete truth. “You’re my best friend. A girl never forgets her best friend. Even with all those cute football players around.”

His laughter howls out of him as he jumps off the swing, rushing over to me. “You think you’re funny?”

He pushes my knees, causing me to swing backward sharply as my own laugh falls out of me. I hold on tightly to the handles, kicking out my feet, causing him to stumble for a brief second.

We continue to giggle, in our own little bubble while he grabs the handles, spinning me around until he stops, keeping our gazes locked.

“I’d miss you if I didn’t see you all the time.”

“I’d miss you too,” I whisper, not sure why. “I never want us to be apart, Dom. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Ditto.” His lips tip upward into a tentative smile.

Though his smile may mean nothing to anyone here, to me, it’s everything.

* * *

Clutching my chest, I swallow the hurt building in my throat. It wasn’t enough for my father to destroy a future with my mother, but he took Dom away too.

I’m so glad he’s dead. I’m at peace with what I’ve done. There are no nightmares, no lingering regrets.

He’s gone.

Finally.

I turn my face to the sun, my eyelids drifting shut, the rays radiating through my skin.

“It’s okay, you know,” my aunt says from behind.

I hadn’t even realized she came out of the house.

“It’s okay what?” I ask, squinting.

She takes a seat beside me, placing her warm palm over the top of my hand. “To forgive him. You don't have to, but if there’s a part of you that does, that's okay too. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”

My aunt knows everything. I’ve laid out every detail to her.

“What he did. Taking me, lying about his identity…all of it. It’s hard.” I purse my lips, my brows furrowing.

“Of course it is.” Her features turn with a grimace. “Believe me, I want to kill him every time I think about you being in that house. I don’t care what he thought. He went about it all wrong. But at the same time, he wanted to protect you, even while thinking you took your father’s side.”

I nod, conflicted in the same way. What he did wasn’t all light or dark. It’s blended in numerous shades of gray.

My aunt is right. I do feel a sense of shame for even considering forgiving him. I should hate him and be done with it. I should close our book and burn every last page. But I can’t seem to light the match. Instead, I hold it tighter against my chest, wanting so badly to know what happens next.

Aunt Kirsten leans in closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Take it one day at a time, honey. Give yourself grace to figure out what you want without all the background noise.”

“I want to read the letter,” I confess. “But I can’t seem to open it.”

I lean my head against her chest as she strokes my arm.

“To your heart, he isn’t a stranger. It knows him well. And the heart doesn’t let people go that easily, even when we may want it to. Is there anything left fighting for? Only you know the answer to that. And I know you’ll find it.” She squeezes me to her side. “But whatever you decide, I’ll be here. No matter what.”

Finding newfound courage, I pick up the letter, peering at my aunt. “Will you stay here while I read this? I don’t want to be alone.”

“Of course,” she promises. “You take all the time you need. I have nowhere else I’d rather be.”

---