Page 70 of Knight

“I don’t blame him. He’s madly in love with you. You’re the first woman he’s ever been in love with. Can you blame him for wanting to marry you?”

I shake my head. “I can’t talk about this anymore.”

“Whatever. I’ll give you a few days to wallow, and then you’re going to put on your big girl pants and fix this.”

“It’s irretrievably broken. You didn’t see his face. I broke his heart.”

“I bet you did.”

I take a deep breath. “The girls don’t know that I’m home. We were supposed to stay out there for two more days. Please don’t tell them I’m back or what happened. I need to get my shit together before I talk to them.”

“Fine. I’m off work this week anyway. We can eat ice cream and watch movies. A few days though. You only get a few days.”

“We’ll see.”

* * *

JACKSON

I’ve been in bed for over forty-eight hours. I’ve never been so thankful that everyone thinks I’m away. No one has bothered me.

How did I misread things so badly? I thought she loved me as I love her. I thought she wanted to spend her life with me as I do her. I was so wrong. I was just someone to pass her time. A temporary place filler.

I hear my front door open. “Dad, are you back?” It’s Payton. I manage a grunt to let him know where I am. He walks into my bedroom. “What the hell? It stinks in here. You look like shit. Are you sick? Didn’t you just get back this afternoon? Where’s Darian?

“We came back early.”

“Why?”

“She broke my heart.”

“What?”

“I asked her to marry me, and she said no. She doesn’t love me.”

“She said she doesn’t love you? I doubt that.”

“No, she said she loves me, but can’t marry me because in her heart she’s already married to another man.”

“Oh.” He fidgets nervously, unsure what to say. “I’m sorry, Dad. I know you thought she was the one.”

“She is the one. I’m just not meant to get to marry the love of my life.”

He looks at me like I’m pathetic. Iampathetic. “Come on, Dad, let’s get you in the shower. You’ll feel better once you clean up a bit.”

“Doubtful.”

* * *

DARIAN

“Hey, baby. I haven’t seen or spoken to the girls this week, so nothing to report there. It’s been a rough week for me though.” I sit down in the grass by his tombstone and run my fingers along the inscription.

Scott Gregory Lawrence, beloved father, son, brother, husband, and soulmate.

Soulmate. I promised him forever. Why can’t anyone else see that? “I hurt Jackson. That fact devastates me. I also hurt myself in the process. I’m a bit of a mess.” I lay my head back, trying to feel close.

“Cassandra thinks I’m wrong. I don’t know what I think anymore. I’m too tired from so many days of crying to think anymore. I wish you were here to talk to me. To help me.” I look up. As always, nothing.

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