Page 116 of Begin Again

Selene nods, her gaze steady. “And when you make sure there aren’t any loose ends.”

For the briefest moment, Aubrey’s composure wavers. Her smile remains, but there’s a flash of cold calculation in her eyes—defensiveness, perhaps, or even calculation. It’s gone in an instant, replaced by a practiced warmth. “Exactly,” she says smoothly. “Loose ends can ruin everything if you’re not careful.”

My heart pounds, every word feeling like a step closer to the edge of a cliff. I force a grin, raising my glass slightly. “Here’s to tying up loose ends, then.”

Aubrey lifts her glass, her smile never faltering. “To tying up loose ends.”

We clink our glasses together.

The sound is sharp, hollow.

None of us drink.

And this time, I know she notices.

30

Selene

The glass of sweet tea is cold against my palm, but I can’t bring myself to drink it. The thought of it—of what might be lurking in the amber liquid—churns my stomach. I try not to stare at it too long, try not to let my disgust show, but the weight of the glass feels heavier than it should.

Aubrey’s eyes flick between us, her smile a little too precise, a little too careful. “You’re not drinking,” the lightness in her voice an illusion. There’s a sharper note underneath—dangerous and waiting.

I force a small laugh, swirling the tea in my glass as if I’m savoring it instead of resisting the urge to throw it back in her face. “Oh, I will,” I say smoothly. “Just taking it all in first. This is…beautiful, Aubrey. Truly. I can see why Gabriel loved celebrating anniversaries with you.”

Theo shifts slightly beside me, his knee brushing against mine. It’s a subtle reminder:Stay calm. Stay in control.

Aubrey’s smile relaxes, though her grip on her glass remains firm. “He was the best man I’ve ever known,” she says softly, her voice thick with what sounds like genuine emotion. “Every year, I tried to make it special for him. He deserved that much.”

A flicker of heat flares in my chest—anger, sharp and searing. Did her other victims deserve that much? Did Theo’s parents? Did George?

I nod, leaning forward just enough to seem invested, meeting her gaze head-on. “Theo mentioned how thoughtful you always were. What was the most over-the-top thing you ever did for him? You already told me about your favorite anniversary he planned.”

Her eyes light up, and for a moment, she’s lost in the memory, in the nostalgia. She starts talking, recounting some elaborate, romantic gesture—meant to be sweet but instead feels like a performance, a carefully constructed narrative meant to manipulate.

As she speaks, I keep swirling my glass, pretending to listen while sneaking a glance at Morgan. She’s leaning back on her hands, her glass resting untouched beside her. Her expression is calm, even amused, but her eyes meet mine briefly, sharp and knowing. We’re all waiting, circling like predators around a snake, ready to strike.

“And Gabriel loved it,” Aubrey finishes with a small, wistful laugh. “He said it was the happiest he’d ever been.”

Theo speaks up then, his voice steady and warm. “He was lucky to have you, Aubrey. You always knew how to make people feel special.”

Her gaze softens as she looks at him. “You’re sweet, Teddy. Just like your father was.”

The mention of his dad sends a ripple of tension through him. I feel it in the way his leg tenses against mine, but he doesn’t let it show on his face. “I like to think I learned it from him,” he says with a faint smile.

Aubrey raises her glass, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “To Gabriel,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “And to the love we shared.”

“To Gabriel,” Theo echoes, lifting his glass. Morgan and I follow suit, the weight of the moment pressing down on us like a heavy fog.

As the glasses clink together, I make sure to angle mine so the rim barely touches my lips without actually drinking. The sweet tea’s scent wafts up, too saccharine and cloying. My stomach twists, but I keep my face neutral.

Morgan is the first to break the silence, her voice light but pointed. “You know, Aubrey, I’ve been thinking a lot about the people who didn’t get to celebrate anniversaries like this. People who had their stories cut short before they had a chance.”

Aubrey’s eyes narrow slightly, but her smile doesn’t falter. “Life can be cruel like that,” she says. “You never know how much time you’ll have.”

Morgan tilts her head, studying her. “That’s true. But sometimes…cruelty isn’t random. Sometimes, it’s a choice.”

The air grows thick, the silence stretching a beat too long. Aubrey’s grip tightens around her glass. She recovers quickly, but I see the flicker of something—annoyance, maybe even caution. “That’s an interesting perspective,” she says slowly. “But I prefer to focus on the good things, the people who matter. Like Gabriel.”

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