Page 71 of The Destruction You Desire
"Everything happens for a reason," I whisper the words that Mom said to me more times than I can count over the years.
"Yep. I believe it does. MKU was our fate, Peyton. Written in the stars long before we knew anything about it. What you do with it now is up to you."
"Yeah, maybe."
"No one can make this decision but you, and you're the only one whose opinion matters. You're the only one who can control your happiness."
"Thank you, Letty."
"Anytime. It's nice to have someone listen to me. Kane, Luca, and Lee usually just grunt at me and pretend they’re listening."
I can't help but laugh. "I think you're listened to more than you think."
"I should go. I need to update Aunt Fee."
"Okay. I'm here if you need me, okay. Judgment-free zone when it comes to bad decisions with me."
I laugh. "That's good to know. Thank you."
I pull my cell from my ear to hang up but Letty saying my name makes me pull it back.
"Yeah."
"Don't feel bad about using him for what you need. He owes you. Make the most of it."
"Letty, I think I love you." I laugh, feeling much more like myself.
"Feelings mutual, P. Speak soon, yeah?"
"Yeah."
* * *
After calling Aunt Fee and then reluctantly my boss at The Locker Room to confirm what I'd already told him when I discovered what was going on, that I wasn't going to be there for at least the rest of this week, I make my way back up to Libby and Luca.
I feel lighter, less conflicted about everything that's going on between us after speaking to Letty. She makes everything sound so easy. It might be annoying if I didn't know she's just been through it with Kane. But I know she's talking from experience when it comes to complicated relationships, so I really appreciate it.
"Hey," Luca says softly. "How are you feeling?"
"Good. Better. Thank you for making me go. What's that?" I ask, taking in the battered purse that's sitting on the end of Libby's bed.
"Her purse. One of the nurses brought it in. They cleared it of… yeah. They kept it safe for you."
"Oh, is there much in it?"
"I haven’t looked."
Walking over, I glance at my sister and then down at her purse. My need to know where she's been, what her life has been like, aside from the obvious, is too much to ignore and I pull the zipper open, peering inside.
I see that it’s almost empty; other than a notebook, a tatty old wallet, and a lot of trash.
I pull out all the receipts and old wrappers and dump them into the trash. I find all the old coins at the bottom and drop them into her empty wallet.
"Oh my God," I gasp when I open the back section where her credit cards should be, although that part is empty. What captures my attention is the photograph on display.
"What is it?"
I stare down at a time that I remember like it was only yesterday.
