Page 96 of Third Time Lucky

He nods approvingly. ‘Good riddance.’

‘Exactly.’

‘How’s it feel?’

Our gaze meets a streetlight illuminating the area around us as I inhale sharply, blowing it out slowly.

‘It feels like I got back a very large part of my heart.’ I rest a hand on my chest. ‘But there’s one more thing I need to do, and I think you are the absolute perfect person to be a part of this.’

‘Am I?’

‘In so many ways, yes. Your text tonight was like a sign from the universe that the metaphorical curse had been lifted – though Madi is absolutely certain it was real. And when it was over, I knew I had to do this next.’

He nods, his face grave as he pulls his vial from his jacket pocket.

‘I suspected that’s what you wanted to do. Are you sure you’re ready?’

An anxious bubble of laughter (not the ha-ha kind) leaves my lips unexpectedly.

‘Are you? I sort of just threw this at you without asking. Don’t do it if you’re only doing it because I am. Ineedto. It’s time. But if it’s not time for you that’s OK?—’

He reaches up and touches my waving hand.

‘I’m ready,’ he says, lacing his fingers through mine and holding on tightly, stopping my rambling instantaneously. His gaze is on Kris in his other hand. ‘Truth be told, I’ve been ready for a long time, but the timing of actually letting him go never felt completely right. Until recently.’

I pull my vial from my hoodie, holding it alongside Asher’s. Inside, it’s not just Kris – it’s a piece of our shared history, our grief, and our love for a friend who left us too soon.

‘You have a way of reading my mind. It’s sort of scary,’ he says, easing the tension as he walks me toward the river railing. Each step feels heavier than the last, as if I’m carrying a vial of ashesandmy first try at love. I always feel like I failed, but I didn’t – he was just taken too young.

As we reach the railing, I realize this is where everything ends. This is it. The final farewell to Kris. Where I let go of the pain that’s held me captive for so long and be the person he’d want me to be. Happy.

‘Ready?’ Ash asks, releasing my hand.

I exhale heavily, raising a shaky hand. ‘Ready.’

He unscrews the lid of his vial, gazing at the ashes inside for a long moment. I do the same; a lump forms in my throat as memories of Kris flood my mind. I don’t know if what we had was truly love – I was a teenager – but for the two years we dated, Ireallyloved Kris wholeheartedly. As much as a teenager could love. And I know he and Ash were inseparable from a young age, so I’ve no doubt he’s feeling the same breathless feeling I am right now.

Together, we turn our vials over, watching as the ashes scatter in the gentle breeze, mingling with the water below. It’s a bittersweet moment.

‘I hope you’re at peace,’ I say softly – my voice shaking with each word.

‘I’ll never hurt her,’ Ash says simultaneously as if he’s continuing a conversation with him.

I study his face, seeing a mix of emotions flicker across his features before he locks eyes with me.

‘I won’t,’ he says to me. ‘Ever – no matter what I am to you – that’s a promise.’

Tears glisten in my eyes, and he pulls me into him, holding me tightly. At this moment, I know we will always have a bond – forged in grief, strengthened by shared memories and sealed with a promise to move forward. Together.

30

ASHER

And… I just completely fell in love with the woman. Like there is no coming back from this. She owns me. What a strange feeling to have just released a piece of my past that had been holding me back, and I didn’t even realize it until right now while standing at the edge of the Willamette River with the girl he once loved more than anything. I get it. Probably in a completely different way, but I get it, and I love it. Her. Everything about her.

I want to protect her from everything and anyone who ever wants to do her harm. I want to rope the fucking moon and pull down the stars to light her path. There’s not a question in my mind, heart or soul that I love this girl. Completely. Having a past with her just makes it a little bit sweeter. We share this core memory with equal loss on both sides and no one else will ever understand it but us. We need each other.

‘Come on,’ I say after we spend a few moments in silence. ‘I’ll buy you a coffee.’

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