Page 88 of Unforgettable

“That’s not fair,” I bite back. “You know it’s not that easy.”

“That’s right, Reeve, Idoknow it’s not that easy, but I’m here trying to live my life for me anyway.”

“They’ll never understand,” I protest.

“So make them,” he implores. “Make them understand. Show them the man you are when you’re happy and living the way you want to.”

The picture he’s painting sounds like a dream. Like my own fairy tale with my own amazing prince, but fear seeps through, like a vine wrapping itself around my heart, squeezing till the pain is unbearable.

“I’m too scared,” I say honestly, my voice trembling. “I’m too scared to stay.”

“So that’s it,” he says, his words so dejected, his eyes full of nothing but desolation.

I did that to him.

“You’re just too scared to stay,” he repeats.

The excuse sounds pathetic on his lips, and shame at how consumed I am by this fear washes through me.

“I’m sorry,” I breathe out, letting my tears fall.

Wiping his own eyes, Oz steps toward me and presses his lips to my forehead. “Me too.”

22

Oz

“Oz,” my mom calls out. “Are you finished eating?”

Dazed, I look up from my food and notice everyone’s eyes are on me. I shift uncomfortably in my chair. “Sorry. What did you say?”

“Are you finished with your food?” she asks tenderly.

“Yeah. Thanks.” Standing up, I pick up my plate and walk on autopilot to the kitchen sink. I know everybody is staring and worried, and I should at least try to pretend to be okay, but I don’t know how.

I feel absolutely blindsided by Reeve’s absence. One, because I didn’t see it coming, and two, I didn’t know it would hurt this much.

Nothing has ever hurt this much.

“Honey.” My mom’s voice sounds from behind me, her hand resting on the middle of my back.

“Yeah?” I turn to face her and see all the other men in my family sneak out to the backyard with Tommy and Summer, while my sisters stand behind her, a look of concern on each of their faces. If their distressed expressions weren’t for me, it would almost be comical.

“We’re worried about you, Oz. Talk to us.”

A weak chuckle leaves my mouth. “Talk to all of you?”

“What happened?” Kat asks impatiently. “It’s been three weeks and you are not getting better.”

Leaning back on the sink, I cross my ankles and cross my arms over my chest. “He left,” I say flatly. “He left. I told him I loved him and wanted him to stay. And he left anyway.”

Maddy’s eyes find mine, and when I catch her chin trembling, her sadness threatens to tear me in two.

I couldn’t tell her about Reeve. She knew the truth, and I didn’t need to be reminded of how badly the whole thing blew up in my face.

“I thought you two agreed you would try long distance,” my mom says innocently, recollecting the lies Reeve and I fed her only weeks ago. “Why did you both change your mind?

“It wasn’t real,” Maddy blurts out.

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