Page 24 of Crossroads of Love

She was never right for him, so it is somewhat of a lie, but I need to steer the conversation away from Aaron.

“Yeah, well. We weren’t meant to be.”

His face darkens instantly, his jaw tightening. His voice is hard, cutting off any chance for me to keep going.

I regret saying anything. Just when I was starting to see that playful side of him again, I’d hit a nerve.

“Look, Gavin, I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine, Lena.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to talk about Sarah.”

“Okay.”

We stand there for a moment, neither of us saying anything. The laughter and music from the bonfire drifts in through the open window, but inside the kitchen, it feels too quiet.

Finally, he sighs and leans against the counter again, his expression softening just a little. “You know, Dad would’ve loved this. You guys did a good job with the party.”

I smile, grateful for the change in subject. “Yeah, he would’ve. It was his idea, after all. We just tried to make it as close to what he wanted as possible.”

“He always knew how to throw a party.”

“Yeah, he did.” I pause, studying him for a moment. “You doing okay?”

Why did I just ask him that? Stop trying to take care of him!

Gavin’s eyes meet mine, and for a second, I see something raw in them, something vulnerable. But he quickly masks it with a smile. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Listen to him. Don’t try to decipher his words. He says what he means.

He’s fine. Leave it at that.

“Alright,” I reply softly, turning to head back outside. “But if you ever want to talk…”

What am I doing? I just couldn’t resist, could I? Always the fixer, always.

I let out a long, exasperated sigh as I leave him in the kitchen alone. My heart clenches, and tears prick my eyes.

Later that night, as the fire burns lower and the crowd thins out, I see Gavin sitting on a log near the edge of the group, his eyes fixed on the flames. He looks lost in thought.

I watch him for a moment, debating whether to go over and talk to him. Part of me wants to reach out and break through that wall he always put up. But another part of me knows better. Gavin isn’t the type to let people in, not really.

What do I think will happen if I talk to him? He’ll finally see how amazing I am and what a mistake he made all those years ago?

I stay where I am, sitting with Jayla and Tatum, listening to the music and relishing the warmth of the fire. Whatever is going on with Gavin, he’ll have to deal with it in his own way.

Not my circus. Not my monkey.

He lost that access to me when he told me we weren’t in a relationship and were just fuck buddies.

Maybe holding a grudge for eighteen years is a bit much?

The house is quiet, and everyone is long gone except for Jayla, who has fallen asleep on the couch, her head resting on a pillow, curled up in one of Henry’s old quilts. I gently drape another blanket over her, watching her for a moment before heading to the kitchen to clean up the last of the dishes. The clink of plates and the running water in the sink fill the silence.The night has been a success, bittersweet but filled with love, exactly how Henry would’ve wanted it.

When I step back outside, I see Gavin crouched by the fire, stirring the embers with a long stick. He is putting it out, smothering the last flames.

“You’re still here,” I state quietly, walking toward him.

He glances up, offering a tired smile. “Yeah, still here. I’m staying in my old room for the night.”

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