Page 115 of Seven Days in June

They didn’t move.

“Tell me what happened,” she whispered.

“One of my students was shot.”Say his name.“Ty. And he…he didn’t have anyone. He was all alone in a hospital, and he was hurt, with no parents who cared. Just like us. Remember?”

Eyes widening, Eva nodded.

“He’d been trying to call me. But I was too busy—I was happy, so I ignored him. I was so fucking happy.” Shane shook his head. “He died today. He’s gone. Thirteen years old.Thirteen.I promised him I’d be there, and I wasn’t.”

“Shane.”

“I guess that’s what I do to people. I don’t deserve a family. I can’t…”

His words were cut off, because Eva gathered him into her arms—and her grip was so tight, she almost knocked the wind out of him. “Stop. You deserve a family. It wasn’t your fault.”

Shane was almost too numb to react. But then, after a few moments, he slid his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him. And finally his muscles released. He slumped against her, face nestled in the crook of her neck, giving in to the grief.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she repeated, pressing her lips against his temple.

Shane nodded, but it felt like nonsense—just the words people have to say when someone’s hurting. He squeezed her tighter anyway, grasping the leather of her dress in his fists.

At some point, from inside the ballroom, they heard Jenifer Lewis’s muffled voice announce Eva’s category.

“Back to your seats, cullids! Time for the Best Erotic Romance award! Where my sex writers at? Chiiiile, good thing I don’t write what goes on in my dirty-ass mind, y’all’d be filing for unemployment. I see you, Bonnie. You know I’m dirtier than you!”

“That’s you,” Shane said.

“I know.”

Neither moved, still holding on to each other. From far away, they heard Jenifer’s booming voice over the mic, ordering the Littie president to hand her the envelope. She began reading off the nominees.

“It’s not your fault,” Eva repeated, louder this time.

Shane wondered if perhaps she was right. Maybe it was true, and none of this was his fault. And maybe there were people out there who could really let themselves off the hook. Maybe he could have been that person if he hadn’t caused his foster mom’s death or disappeared on Eva, or if he’d been there for Ty when he needed him. Until he learned how to absolve himself,forgivehimself, he had no business escaping into a relationship with Eva. He’d just bring those demons with him.

And then, for the first time ever, Shane ignored what he desperately wanted and made his first truly responsible decision.

“I can’t do this,” he said. “Us.”

Eva let out a tiny sigh and pulled out of the hug. Palming his cheeks, she rested his forehead against hers.

“No, you can’t.”

“And Louisiana…”

“I’m going without you,” she said definitively. “It’s fine.”

“I don’t want to hurt you or Audre,” he said, his voice tinged with resigned sadness. “I’m not good enough for you yet. But I want to be, and I’ll work on it. I promise.”

Shane couldn’t believe it was over, that they were dissipating like wispy plumes of smoke. It was impossible to tell what Eva was thinking. She seemed sturdy with resolve.

“Don’t make promises,” she whispered. “Our promises don’t stick.”

“Eva…”

“Just be kind to yourself.”

“I’ll try.”

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