So now, I’m there for her. We still keep the sticky reminders and the smile log, despite it being Nolan’s suggestion.
We were unable to tie his car to the ones used, the Bullet Man is still on the loose. His name didn’t even make the news, as opposed to the nurse, who eventually confessed to delivering drugs. Her name got dragged through the mud, and last I heard, she lost her job. Nolan is still a therapist.
I don’t even want to broach the subject of how he fucking got away with helping to murder eleven people, Legal technicalities really piss me off.
On the bright side, the killings have stopped and the homicide rate has returned to normal. Eventually, he’ll mess up, and I’ll be the first person to catch him and throw his smug, arrogant ass in prison.
Until then, I’m working on my relationship with Eleanor. About three months ago, we decided to start dating again. It’s weird, but we’re closer than ever, and she’s excited to be a mom.
And Isla is going to love her. The woman I hate the most in my life is the one who gave me the best gift of all, my daughter.
Stefanie had been a mistake—a-seven-year-mistake. I was young, working long hours, and she was always there. I didn’t have time for a relationship, and I was lonely, so I slept with her. A lot.
We both used each other for sex. Convenience, which is asshole-ish to say, but it’s the truth. Then she got pregnant, and no way did I see myself raising a baby with this woman. I barely had time to myself, how were we going to raise a kid.
To this day, I regret asking Stefanie to have an abortion. I think the guilt is what made me keep her close and lie to the woman I loved. Stefanie was fine until the day I found out Elle was pregnant. She had been in the room with us, and I found her crying that same day.
She was my friend and I knew to do right by both of them, I needed to put in a partner request. No one but Cap knew; we wanted to wait until the request went through and until I told Elle before sharing the news. Then the shooting happened, and everything got postponed.
Now Elle and I are full-disclosure and getting married again. We haven’t set the date yet, but we’re thinking of doing it on Tyler’s due date, so we can always remember the journey we’ve taken.
Today, we’re at Tyler’s gravesite. It’s the first time we’ve been here.
“Marker 692,” she says, glancing up at me. “The map says it’s here.”
The window is down, so the cool afternoon breeze circulates through the car. The smell of fresh-cut grass wafts in with the wind. “This is the infant section?”
“Yeah, by that angel statue over there.” She points at the angel statue on the top of the small hill with the wings spread out over the grass. A small stream circles the bottom with weeping willows extending over the water. A small wooden bridge leads over to the section.
She unfastens her seatbelt and rolls the window up. Her hand reaches for me, lacing her fingers through mine. I love that she does—reaching for me again. “Did you bring your last sticky note?”
“It’s in my pocket. I can’t believe we were able to go through all of them.”
I shut the engine off and get out of the car, circling the front to open the door for her. She steps out, and I curl my hand around her waist, leading her toward the small bridge. The grass near the angel comes into view, and small cement nameplates are lined up in rows and columns on the almost flat hill.
“I didn’t think I’d ever step foot in here, but it’s so peaceful.” She swivels her head toward me. “But it still hurts to be here.”
“I think it’s going to hurt for a long time, babe.” We cross the sturdy bridge. “The wooden planks have a saying on the.”
We stop in the center to read the words. “Think of them with a beating heart because they will always live inside you.”
“I told myself I wasn’t going to cry,” she says with a sniffle.
The ball in my throat keeps me from speaking.
We reach the name “Tyler Xavier Dalton.” Her small fingers brush against the hard cement. She takes the last sticky note with the ‘one’ written on it and sticks it to the headstone. “You will always be the one thing I remember most.”
About Sonya Jesus
Sonya´s a science nerd who decided to give into her creative fictional side in order to balance out the non-fictional scientific side of her PhD. She doesn´t have much free time, but she spends it enjoying her family and friends, watching Netflix and playing with her dogs.
THERE’S EVEN MORE LEAVE ME BREATHLESS BOOKS TO DISCOVER!
THE LILAC COLLECTION
The Lilac symbolizes the first emotion. This collection will feature first in series books from HJ Bellus, Kim Loraine, Dakota Willink, Tamara Lush, KL Donn, H.C. Bentley, Lexi Hart, Samantha Morgan, Samantha Lind, Sonya Jesus, A.C. Williams, and DL Gallie.
This LIMTED EDITION book is only available until December 31, 2019.
THE MOONFLOWER COLLECTION
The Moonflower symbolizes dreaming of love. The collection will feature brand new, never before published, stand-alone books from Heather Guimond, Lexi Hart, Kiersten Modglin, A.C. Williams, Samantha Morgan, Barbra Campbell, Lyssa Cole, and M. Piper.
THE IVY COLLECTION
The Ivy symbolizes dependence, endurance, and faithfulness. This collection will feature brand new, never before published, stand-alone books from KL Donn, Evan Grace, Ashley Lane, C.M. Lally, Michelle Windsor, Sophia Henry, K.L. Humphreys, and Natalie Hill.
THE BLACK ROSE COLLECTION
The darker side of Leave Me Breathless...
The Black Rose symbolizes rejuvenation or rebirth, but it can also symbolize death and farewell. The collection will feature brand new stand-alone books from Dakota Willink, Elizabeth Knox, Sierra Hill, Sienna Snow, Patricia D. Eddy, Sonya Jesus, Cayce Poponea, Crimson Syn, Pepper North, Jo-Anne Joseph and Sin Silverfall.
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Leave Me Breathless: The Black Rose Collection Page 150