Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 79183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“What a wonderful fantasy…” I whisper. “Imagining you can be perfect.”
“What a beautiful nightmare…” Quinn says next to me. “Owning your dreams.”
I turn to him. “What do you mean?”
“They go hand in hand,” he whispers. “You have to own them both—to have it all…”
The service ends, and I wonder what’s going to happen, but I don’t have to wait for long. Ambrose makes his way toward us after about an hour. Everyone’s down the street at his home—my old home.
He smiles at me, and it feels real.
I don’t know if I should run toward him or away.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” He nods at Quinn. “Thank you.”
Quinn lets go of my hand. “All in a day’s work of being the sidekick.”
“You were never the sidekick.” Ambrose shakes his head. “Some might say you were the main character who just got lost because the bat signal was complete shit.”
“Probably your fault.”
He pauses, then laughs, “Yeah, probably.”
Quinn gives Ambrose a slight punch in the arm and then leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my lips.
A month ago, I’m sure it would have started a fight.
Today, I’m thankful because I know what that kiss means. I once heard a song where the lyrics said it’s time to rise again.
And it is.
It truly is.
I give him a hug, and I wonder so many things… but for now, I need to not fall apart, and I need Ambrose the way he needs me.
He pulls me into his strong arms. “Stay.”
I still against him. I have no words to give him, no courage, only myself, and I hope it’s enough.
Rise.
Just lift your head, show him your eyes—give him your soul.
I nod against his chest.
And I don’t know how long we stand there, holding each other, but it’s long enough that I feel him getting strong again, I don’t know how or why I feel it, but I do.
“I won’t let go.” My lips move against his chest, against his shirt. “I won’t leave you alone, Ambrose. I just knew we all needed time.”
“Time,” he replies. “What a wonderful gift.”
“And horrible curse,” I say.
We both turn toward the casket and stare.
Chapter Forty-Four
Ambrose
“I’m exhausted.” Quinn collapses against my couch and tugs at his black tie. “Why didn’t you tell me your great aunt kisses people on the lips like twenty-four-seven?”
“She’s European?” I laugh.
He scrambles back from me. “No! That accent is fake as shit. I won’t believe it, I won’t. Her lipstick tasted like cake though, so I mean, not a total loss.”
MB walks by him and kicks his legs off of the table. “Feet off, and it was MAC. MAC always tastes like cake.”
“Yeah okay, Mom.” He sits up. “But, really? It does? How do you know?”
MB smiles. “I lick my lips, dumb-dumb.”
“So you guys seem comfy.” I laugh for the first time in a few days, and it feels really fucking good. “Like the bickering couple, everyone admires but also wants to punch in the throat?”
MB glares at Quinn. “He’s messy.”
“She’s loud!” he yells as if he isn’t breaking the sound barrier. “She’s constantly singing in the shower. Look, I love you, but you are NOT Adele!”
“I COULD BE ADELE!” she shouts, then stomps her foot, God, she’s adorable.
“Wow.” I scratch my cheek and lean back against the chair. “Sounds like things have been fun for you two.”
They glare at each other. Are they going to cross swords at dawn? Should I be worried?
Quinn finally crosses his arms. “She’s all right, I guess.”
“He’s fine.” She winks over at me.
“Glad my best friends can get along.” I stand. “Movie night?”
Quinn jumps to his feet. “Hey, it’s been a rough time for you. You should at least rest, you aren’t fully healed and—“
I don’t know why I do it; I truly don’t. I just grab him and hold him against me. I hug him so tight that I’m sure I’m breaking my own bones.
He hugs me right back.
And then MB is right there between us, and I kiss her, then he kisses her, and then I’m like, what the hell is going on, and I just go with it; my emotions are everywhere, they’re out of control.
MB pulls back and looks between us. Quinn’s stunned. His eyes are wide as he looks between the two of us.
“Fourteen.” MB nods her head. “You were drugged. You were a freshman in high school, what a horrible sexual experience.”
Quinn laughs awkwardly. “Yeah, well… we don’t remember all of it, but yeah…”
I mean, what else is there to say?
Tessa’s gonna most likely go to prison. The video will never see the light of day again, and it was a mistake, one we covered up because, hello, gotta make everything look great and perfect.
How pathetic.
How sad.
It almost makes me want to blast it and flip off the world, but I realize the repercussions. We were underage too, so that definitely would not be okay.