Page 127 of Steel Beauty

Hell, I’m not sure Icanlet her go.

My therapist’s words play on a loop in my mind, calm and measured, urging me to focus on what I can control. To treasure the time we have left. But logic can’t touch the ache in my chest or silence the part of me screaming for her to stay.

Logic isn’t enough. I need something more—clarity, perspective. And if anyone can help me find it, it’s Jack and Laurelyn. They’ve faced this same challenge, the kind that tests you, and they came out stronger, together. I’ve seen their bond firsthand—steady, unshakable, the kind of love that doesn’t falter.

The decision is made before doubt can creep in. I grab my phone and scroll to Jack’s name.

“Hey, mate. Are you and Laurelyn free tonight? I could use some advice… and maybe a glass of that wine you keep bragging about.”

“Absolutely. We’ll be here. Come by when you’re ready.”

I pull up to Jack and Laurelyn’s house. Taking a steady breath, I step out of the car and head to the door. Jack is already there, his easy smile tempered by the concern in his eyes as he studies me.

“Alex,” he says, gripping my hand in a firm shake before pulling me into a brief hug. Jack’s been like an older brother to me for years—steady, unflinching, the person I know I can count on when I need honest advice.

“Hey, mate,” I say, managing a small smile.

Laurelyn appears, wrapping me in a gentle hug. “Good to see you, Alex.”

“Thanks for letting me come over. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, so I really appreciate it.”

“You’re always welcome here.” Laurelyn’s gaze moves past me, her brow furrowing slightly. “Where’s Magnolia? Isn’t she with you?”

I shake my head. “She’s having dinner with coworkers tonight.”

Laurelyn glances at Jack, their silent exchange quick and seamless—the kind of communication that comes only from years of marriage. Jack gives her a small nod before stepping aside, motioning me in.

“Come in and let’s talk about it,” Laurelyn says.

They lead me into the living room, and I sink into the chair across from them. For the first time all day, I feel like I can breathe. I’m in good hands with them.

Laurelyn goes first. “Alex, you look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. What’s going on?”

Am I that easy to read?

The dread presses against my chest, heavy and unrelenting. Admitting it feels like unlocking a door I’ve been holding shut for too long. But the fear and frustration are too loud to ignore any longer.

“Magnolia’s leaving in a week… and I don’t know how to handle it. There’s a knot in my chest that won’t go away, and I’m scared out of my mind that––” I glance between them, my voice faltering. “I don’t know how to let her go.”

Jack leans forward, cutting straight to the heart of it. “What do you actually feel for her, Alex? Do you love her?”

The question lands like a blow. My chest tightens, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. “I do, but it feels too soon.”

While the admission is terrifying, it’s a relief to finally admit it.

“Alex, love doesn’t follow a timeline. When it’s real, you don’t wait for the perfect moment. You seize it, even if it’s messy, even if it’s not part of the plan. The best things in life never happen on schedule.” Laurelyn’s words sink in, but the fear clings. The what-ifs loom large—the risks, the possibility of pushing too hard, too fast. They’re not so easy to let go.

Jack clears his throat. “I know how you feel. I’ve been there. I hesitated with Laurelyn because I thought I had all the time in the world to figure things out. And I almost lost her because of it. If you love Magnolia, don’t let fear stop you. Pride and hesitation aren’t worth the regret.”

Laurelyn studies me as though searching for the answer herself. “What’s stopping you? What’s holding you back from telling her how you feel?”

“What if it’s too much too soon? What if it scares her off?”

Laurelyn immediately fires back. “And what if it’s exactly what she’s waiting to hear? You can’t predict her reaction. But holding back because you’re afraid? That’s a regret you’ll carry far longer than anything you might say wrong.”

Her words soften my doubt, but I can’t shake the fear in my mind. “What did you say when Jack told you how he felt?”

Her gaze slides to Jack. “It wasn’t some perfect declaration. We’d been apart for months by then, and so much had been left unsaid. When he finally told me how he felt, I was elated to hear he’d been miserable without me. It made the time we lost a little easier to forgive.”

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