Page 98 of Out of the Blue

Ah, ha. She got a reward from Apex for tipping them off.At least she doesn’t have any more money worries.Why does this make me feel lighter?

My legs stretch out in front of me. The article reveals all about her debts and exposes Big Rolls’s role in them. She extols her sister and how well she’s doing in cosmetology school. That’s good, I guess. Never wanted anything bad to happen to Juanita. After all, she never did anything to me.

I read the final paragraph and almost drop my phone. She comes clean to the whole world about her role in confirming to Hector about Brax’s being my father. I can almost wipe her tears as she explains how her one, exhausted, slip of the tongue ruined her entire life, even if she’s no longer in debt. How she’s happy I’m doing so well from my transplant—and Brax, too—and she wishes me only the best. How she’s positive TLR will become major superstars in our own right.

I drop the phone next to me.

And process the article.

She all but said she still loves me. It’s all there in black and white.

My chest rises and falls with increasing rapidity.

According to the article, Hector already knew about Brax. She only confirmed what he had heard. When I pressed her back in my hospital room, she claimed she was exhausted after staying with me for days, through my surgery.

True, she did stay at my side throughout the flight and my surgery. I was out, but she stood by me the whole time. Well, she and Auntie Gloria.

I reread the part where she explained how Hector asked her for verification of the rumor. She didn’t actuallytellhim.

I remember her trying to explain all this, but I wasn’t ready to hear her. I wasn’t able to. Back then, I jumped to the conclusion that she lied to me like my mother and ex-girlfriend did. And ordered her out of my life.

Was I wrong?

My heart stutters over Dwight’s earlier declaration.

There’s a big difference between hiding a buried truth and outright lying.

Fuck.I am the biggest asshole ever put on this earth.

I pushed Cordelia away when she could’ve been here with me every step of the way. Making me laugh with her crazy antics. Helping me with my exercises. Smiling with the special look she reserved only for me.

I miss her so much.

Dwight was right.

My head bangs against the wall. Closing my eyes, I say the words out loud to no one. “I love you, Cordy.”

For the second time tonight, my hands wrap into my dreads, and I pull. I need to fix this. Like right the fuck now.

I grab my phone and bring up her contact information. Without delay, I press Send. She doesn’t pick up—am I surprised? I leave her a message.

Needing to reconnect with her, I send her a text. Or two. Or twenty.

She never responds.

Chapter 30 - Trent

Isit in my black recliner in my house, all alone. We’re on a short break after wrapping up the New England leg of the tour. The past month has been torture. I’ve left Cordelia more messages than I can count, more texts than the number of new fans TLR’s picked up. And they number in the thousands.

She hasn’t responded to one.

Get the hint?

A knock at my door snags my attention, and I get up. On leaden feet, I cross the room and open the door. A guy in a messenger uniform holds up a letter. It’s the one I sent to Cordelia yesterday.

“I tried to deliver this envelope, sir, but was told she’s no longer at this address. Thought I should return it to you.” He extends his arm.

I take the envelope. “Thanks.”

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