Page 195 of Be My First

Obliterate Sneak Peak

Chapter One

Fourteen Months Ago

Icall him. I promisedmyself I’d never call him again, but...but, I need him. I need him tonight. I won’t think about tomorrow. I won’t think about the past. I just know I need him now.

Right now.

My heart races as the phone rings. The last time we spoke, he said he’d never speak to me again.

“Averie?” He’s surprised. It’s been more than a year, after all.

“Can you come?” I answer, my voice hollow; my heart broken.

“What’s happened?”

Tears slide down my face. I can’t respond.

“Is it your mom?” he says, his voice falters.

I can’t answer. I just let out a sob.

“Shit,” he says slowly. “Her cancer returned?”

There are no words, so I just let out another sob.

“Is it treatable? What are they...”

“She’s gone.” My voice couldn’t be flatter.

“Goddamn it.”

My body is shaking. I nearly drop the phone.

“We had the funeral today,” I finally say.

“Averie, I’m so sorry.” I know he means it. I know even though I broke his heart, he means it. He’ll never forgive me for breaking his heart, but he broke mine too.

I know he still cares though. He’ll always care.

I know this because I still care too.

I always will.

“Where are you?” His voice used to cut me to my core. Just a few words, and he could send tingles running down my spine. But not today. Today I feel nothing.

“I just got home.” I’m kicking off my heels and hanging up my coat.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

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