Page 82 of Kiss Away Your Pain (Wounded Hearts 2)

“The only thing you can do is forgive.” Her angelic voice floats into my ears. “Forgive Dom. Forgive Enzo. Forgive yourself.” She delivers each word with tenderness. “Forgiveness is how you’ll get through this.”

I manage to control my sobs though my stomach stings. Sniffing, I nod in her lap, knowing she’s right.

“We don’t know God’s plan. Maybe Dom’s death was God’s way of bringing Enzo to you. So you could love again.” Caution filters through her words. “Maybethisis where your love story truly begins. Dom will always be in your heart. Nothing changes that.” Absolution laces her words, washing me.

I lift from her lap and drape my arms around her neck. “I love you,” I say, my voice straining.

“I love you too.”

We hold each other in an embrace of friendship, sisterhood, and unconditional love.

I edge back, looking at her face. “Wanna Instacart some cupcakes?” I follow my question with as much of a smile as my puffy face can form.

She giggles. “Absolutely.”

While we wait, we fold her blankets and toss our clothes into the dryer. Once our stomachs are full with cupcakes and hot cocoa, she heads home, leaving me with my colossal mess of thoughts and emotions.

It’s late and my mind, body, and soul are overwrought with exhaustion. I feel bad about running out on Enzo. I need to talk to him. I’m sure Nicco and Destiny told him the man who saved his life was Dom, but this is something we need to talk through together.

Though I know Destiny’s right, and none of this is Enzo’s fault, my heart’s in a million pieces and I don’t have it in me to talk to him.

I don’t know when I’ll be ready.

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