Page 83 of One Little Mistake
“Okay, can you put him on?”
“Of course. And, Easton?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mom.”
“I know you do. Make sure you spread that love far and wide. Sometimes, it’s just what someone needs to hear. Here’s Ashton.”
“What?” A painful sounding rasp echoes through the line. My sweet, gentle, baby brother has turned into me.
“Ash? I need you.”
He’s silent, but I hear his heavy breathing.
“Welcome to the chaos. Email what you have and what you need.” His voice is just above a hoarse whisper, and then he hangs up.
Chapter 32
Lexi
“Imatched Seth today,” GG tells me as soon as I open my eyes.
“GG?”What the hell is she doing in my room?Reaching behind me, I feel for Easton, but the bed is empty.
“Uh-huh. That boy’s been up for hours.”
“Great,” I mumble, tossing his pillow over my head. “Wait.” I throw the pillow to the side and sit up. “Did you say you matched Seth? Seth Foster? The Seth that arrived around nine p.m. last night?”
“Sure did. I think they’ll beat you to the finish line, too.”
“Well, good, because I’m not in that race.” Flopping back onto the bed, I pull the covers up to my chin.
GG wastes no time. She rips the covers off me just as she did when I was little and being a brat.
“GG!”
“I’m done with the GG’ing, Locket. It’s time for some tough love.”
Oh shit. GG is pissed. I’ve only ever seen this look once before, and it didn’t end well.
“What do you mean?” I play dumb.
“Remember I told you once the toughest job you’ll ever have is lovin’ yourself?”
How could I forget? That was the last time she was this pissed off.
“Of course I do,” I say the words, but there’s no power to them.
“Well, I was wrong. The toughest job you’re ever gonna’ have is lettin’ yourself believe you deserve the love that man is throwing at you every day. I know you went through somethin’. I know you’re not ready to talk to me about it yet, but smarten up, Locket. That man loves you and will always love you. Allow yourself to receive it, and you’ll be shocked as shit at how quickly your wounds can heal.”
“That’s just it, GG. I don’t want them to heal. I don’t deserve for them to heal. My mind betrayed me when I chose Miles. My body betrayed me when I lost …”
GG’s eyes soften at my slip up, but I push on.
“My body betrayed me,” I yell. “How can you possibly expect me to trust my heart after all that? How? I’m broken, GG. Every part of me, and that’s never going to change.”
