Page 44 of Twisted Redemption

“Is this real?” I look around. This is definitely my house. And the woman standing in front of me is definitely Daisy.

So why does it feel like I’m dreaming?

“Yes,” she whispers.

“But we’re best friends.” I do my best to keep my voice even. I swore to myself years ago that I’d never raise my voice at her. Not when her father did so every damn day growing up. “Is this a joke?”

If it is, it’s not funny.

She shakes her head. A tear falls onto her cheek.

“So... you want to spend more time with David and prioritize college.” I blink once. Twice. She doesn’t disappear.

Fuck.

“That’s right.” Her voice is wobbly.

“And that means there’s absolutely no room for me. Your best friend since birth.”

Her skin turns an actual shade of green. “It wasn’t an easy decision.”

I laugh, but this time the sound is humorless. “What did you do, make a fucking pros and cons list? What the hell, Brooke?”

“I’m sorry.” She tugs at her dress. “I—I should go.”

I grab her arm as she walks past me, pulling her until she bumps up against me. “I don’t believe you. Is David behind this?”

“I’m telling the truth,” she whispers.

“Then actually fucking say it. Look me in the eyes and tell me this is what you want.”

She clenches her jaw. Looks away. But then her usually soft brown eyes meet my gaze with a hard determination that makes my heart clench.

“I don’t want to be close to you anymore.” The words are forced and harsh, and they rip through my soul.

I drop her arm. For once in my life, I’m actually speechless.

I didn’t think she’d actually say it.

Why? Why, Brooke?

She moves to the front door, pausing with her hand on the knob. Turning, she says, “Thank you for being the best friend I ever could’ve asked for.” And then she’s gone, out the door and into the night.

My feet are frozen in place. I know I should go after her. Try to figure out what’s going on. Because there’s no way—no way—my Daisy would just give up on a lifetime of friendship because of a bit of stress.

But I don’t move. I just stand there like a loser who just lost one of the only women he’s ever cared about.

Two. There are only two women I’ve ever loved—my mother and my Daisy. One left years ago, and I thought I’d have the other forever.

But now she’s gone, too.

I don’t cry often. But tonight, there isn’t a single thing that could stop the tears streaming down my face as I watch her car’s lights fade into the distance through my window.

At some point, I drop to my knees. The pain of them hitting the hardwood barely registers.

She’s gone. She’s fucking gone.

Most of me doesn’t believe her. And I can’t shake the sinking feeling that she just lied to me. I just don’t know about what—whether or not she meant it, or her reasoning.

---