Page 97 of Sneak Attack

“Okay.” He brushed his lips against mine, a barely there hint of a kiss that still awakened the sore parts of me he took care of many times last night.

“What are you doing this weekend? Anything planned?”

“I’ll spend time at BarkTown, might try to take Marley into town, at least get her to church on Sunday. She mentioned missing her friends lately.”

“That’d be good for her.”

“And I think I’ll go see Hilary.”

The plan was out before I’d truly considered it, given it much thought, but if I was going to cling to Cole and let go of my fear, this had to be the first step.

His thick, dark brows arched into points. “Yeah?”

“I think I need to.”

“You okay going alone? I can go with you on Monday if you can wait.”

“Not sure Hilary would enjoy my apology with you there with me.”

“She can’t actually hear you.”

“I know, but it still feels wrong. Like maybe this is something I have to do alone. Face her after all this time.”

My vision turned blurry, and Cole curled me against his chest, brushing tears off my cheek as he hugged me. “I get it. But call me if you need me after. I might not be able to answer right away, but I still want to hear you when you’re done.”

I promised him I would, and we pulled ourselves away from each other. Fortunately for me, Marley must have still been asleep when Cole snuck down the stairs, shoes in hand and a small overnight bag thrown over his shoulder.

“Go before she hears you,” I whispered.

Cole laughed and kissed my smile away. “Wouldn’t want you to get grounded.”

“Exactly.” I angled around him and opened Marley’s front door. “Text me when you land safely?”

“As soon as I can. And remember what I said.”

He’d said too many things to me recently I never wanted to forget, but his worry line digging in between his brows told me what he meant.

“I’ll call if I need to,” I promised.

“Good. Take care, Eden. Love you.”

He kissed me, sealed his mouth to mine before I could react to his words or his declaration. And I was still standing in the doorway, stunned, fingers sealing in his kiss and his love while he climbed into this truck and backed down Marley’s steep drive.

CHAPTER30

EDEN

The sun that had woken me up, bringing with it peace and hope turned to gloomy skies and thick, humid air. Fitting, considering it matched the tightness growing deep in my gut with every step closer to Hilary’s final resting place.

Whatever had possessed me into thinking this was a good idea was long since gone. Rows of headstones, many crumbling with age, some newer with fresh flowers lined the rows. I forced myself to look away from the ones with the freshest flowers, people who had either been gone years whose loved ones still remembered them frequently, or they could be the opposite—recently gone and I couldn’t stop the ball in my throat from growing.

As reality closed in on me, my steps slowed. While the cemetery was quiet, only the rustle of leaves and intermittent singing of birds, I could practically hear the purr of my SUV, promising me comfort if I fled back into the safety and space it could provide.

No.

I wouldn’t run from this.

I’d meant what I told Cole. Iwastrying, I just needed to keep walking.

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