Page 238 of Time Stops With You

The atmosphere in the room shifts.

Sunny turns into Darrel’s chest, her eyes glassy.

Sara covers her mouth with the back of her hand, muffling a sob.

Mom blinks rapidly and turns her face away so I can’t see her tears.

I watch as Cullen kneels in front of my little brother. “I won’t forget you either, Josiah. No matter how far I go, I’ll keep you right here.” He taps on his chest. “I promise.”

Josiah gives him a hug and I lose it. Grabbing a napkin from the counter, I wipe away the tears that fall silently from my face.

Mom takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. I’m glad she doesn’t hug me because, if she had, I’d probably start weeping loudly and theatrically. It takes all my strength to pull myself together enough to lift my glass in the air.

“To Cullen,” I sniff.

Cullen’s silver eyes fasten on me, shining with emotions.

The others lift their glasses and in one voice they say, “To Cullen.”

I drain my glass and join the others in applauding the quiet, stubborn, persistent, capable man who changed all of our lives for the better.

Mom and Josiah hang around after the others leave, but my crying spell mixed with all the drinking has left me with a splitting headache. I retreat to the downstairs bedroom and Cullen has to see everyone out alone.

I expect him to be drained from having to carry the responsibility of socializing. However, when he steps into the guest room, he seems calm and relaxed.

“Are you up?” he whispers, moving carefully.

“Yeah.”

“Everyone is gone,” Cullen says, sitting on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling? I saw you drinking a lot.”

“How did you notice? You were in meetings for most of the party,” I accuse.

Cullen goes quiet.

I struggle to sit up while the world spins around me. “Were you talking to them about selling the PLP?”

“Yes.”

“Was that all you talked about?”

Cullen runs a hand over his beanie. I’ve come to understand that as a subconscious soothing mechanism.

In the dimness thrown from the lamp, I watch him. He looks back at me with a half smile as tears gather in his eyes.

And I know.

I justknow.

“It’s time, isn’t it?” I whisper, reeling back.

“It is.”

“Did something happen earlier today? Did you collapse and didn’t tell me? What should I…” I panic and my breathing turns erratic. “Should we go to the hospital?”

“Nardi, do you remember our deal?” Cullen asks.

My chest heaves and I shake my head. It’s not that I don’t remember. I just don’t want to think about it. I wanted more time. Given his three week deadline, we still have a week left.

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