Page 67 of Until Forever

“I tried to give you that chance, and look where it got us. Right back to where we started from.”

“Lana, I…”

“Enough, Keith,” she said sternly. “I can’t do this. I…I just can’t.”

She took one last look at me. Her eyes were filled with so much disdain, but I could still see love in them. Maybe she wished it wasn’t there, but I knew it was. That didn’t stop her from walking away, though.

I was afraid as I watched her leave. It had taken me that long to get any sort of traction with her. Now I knew there was no going back. She was too stubborn and convinced she was right about me.

The only advantage I had was…I knew she was wrong. I was ready to devote my life to making her happy. I could be a good man to her, like my brother was to Melody. I could give her whatever kind of life, home, or family she wanted…the kind she deserved. I was willing to do all of that or die trying. I had decided that a while ago.

As I stood there alone in the marina, which only stood as far along as it was because of her, I knew that as long as she was in Silver Point… No, as long as she was alive…I had to keep fighting for her. I had to keep trying to prove myself.

Because I would never find another woman like her. I just couldn’t be with anyone else.

27

LANA

I walked into the house, dropped my things to the floor, and kicked them off to the side. Claire heard me come in and called out to me from the kitchen.

“I’ll be right there!” I yelled back, stopping to wipe my eyes so she wouldn’t know I had been crying the whole way home.

I sucked in a deep breath and put on a strong face before walking into the kitchen. I was going to do my best to pretend like nothing happened.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re home,” she said sheepishly.

“Yeah, sorry. I just needed to get some fresh air. I don’t know what came over me earlier.”

“I do,” she replied, dropping her eyes down to her hands, which were crossed over the kitchen table. “I could tell what I confessed earlier bothered you. It’s okay if you judge me for what I did, Lana, really. I deserve it. It doesn’t matter if Chris is a cheating scum bag. I shouldn’t stoop to his level.”

“I don’t think that at all,” I assured her, plopping into the seat across from her. I reached across the table and held her hands. “I don’t judge you for what you did.”

“You’re not mad?” she asked.

“God, no. I wish you had done worse to him. Hey, maybe we can key up his truck? Slash his tires?”

“No. If we slash his tires, he’ll be stuck here, and that’s the last thing I want,” she laughed. “Actually, I need to ask you a favor.”

“You want me to key up his truck so you’re not guilty? Because I will. Or if we need to go somewhere secret to discuss murder plots…”

“It’s hardly anything so glamorous,” she smirked. “I was wondering if you could leave the house for a while tonight.”

“Yeah, of course,” I answered without hesitation. “Do you need some alone time?”

She shook her head and sucked in a deep breath. “I asked Chris to make sure he’s home for dinner tonight so we can talk. It was kind of a trick. I’m sure as hell not making him dinner. But…I’ve decided I am going to ask for a divorce and kick him out.”

A wave of relief washed over me that was so strong, I almost forgot about everything going on with Keith.

“Oh my god. You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. I’ve been waiting for this news for so long.”

“I know,” she sighed. “Next time, if you really think I’m marrying the wrong guy, I give you permission to tell me, and I surrender my right to get mad at you for it. Even if it’s the day of the wedding…I want you to tell me.”

“Deal. I’ll pull up to break the news in a getaway car so I can whisk you away right after.”

“That’s what friends are for. And I promise to do the same for you.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “I think you’re off the hook there. I seriously doubt I’ll ever make it that far with a guy. In fact, I was thinking of swearing them off altogether if you’d like to join in on that.”

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