Page 94 of Forever Love

Maia

I’m just finishing cleaning up after breakfast when there’s a knock on the door.

“It’s open,” I yell.

The door swings open, and Leigh walks in. I feel the chaotic energy coming off her before I see her. I quickly wipe my hands and walk around the counter into the living room.

“Leigh?”

“I moved out.”

My eyebrows shoot up before I can control them. “You—what?”

“Abuelita lied to me. And I can’t—I can’t keep living there. I don’t know where I’m going but—”

I walk over to her, hesitant to put my arms around her, because the last few times I’ve tried, she’s pushed me away.

“You’re welcome to stay here. I mean, your potential roommate can be very cranky and temperamental, but she’s only here half the time.”

She gives a weak smile, but can’t hold it.

“What happened?”

“What happened is Abuelita lied to me. My mother was in rehab!”

“What?”

“She was in rehab and Abuelita didn’t tell me. She just told me to read that letter.That fucking letter!”

“You read it?” I ask, shocked and trying to keep up.

“Oh. I read it. After I read theotherletter she sent me.”

“The other letter?”

“One she wrote right before she died. Right before…” She shakes her head before continuing. “If Abuelita had just told me! Maybe we could’ve—done something. If she’d known I wanted to see her—”

“Did you want to?” I ask. Because that was always right at the top of Leigh’shell nolist.

“If she was actually turning her life around! But I didn’t get that choice!” She looks at me with angry eyes, clearly waiting for me to say something, but I don’t know what to say. I doubt her knowing would’ve changed anything, though I’m sure as hell not going to say that right now.

“What? You don’t think Abuelita should have told me?”

Shit.Not saying anything was definitely the wrong choice. “No. Of course, she should have told you. You had every right to know.”

“Then what?”

“What, what? I don’t know what to say, Leigh. I can’t imagine the pain you’re in. I don’t have any experience with anything like this. But I love you, and I’m here for you.”

“Everyone’shere for me,” she mutters.

I cautiously step toward her. “We are. All of us. Our families, but especially us. Jenna, Micah, Vince, Braden, Nick—” She scoffs at his name. “Have you talked to him about this?” Come to think of it, I’m surprised she’s here and not at his house.

Her brow furrows, and the broken look in her eyes flares into anger. “No. I don’t want to talk to him about it! I don’tneedhim.”

Oh shit.

Before I can stop myself, I say, “Did something happen between the two of you?”

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