When Callum calls me, he’s laughing.
“Brother, that girl of yours is something else.”
“What do you mean? What happened? Don’t tell me she turned down the position!”
“No, she didn’t turn it down. She accepted the offer. On the condition that Dad double the salary.”
Good for you, baby. Good for you.
I’m happy because it’s what I wanted, but my heart also hurts. I miss her every day. Sometimes so fucking much, I can’t breathe.
He pauses for a moment, then says gently, “She asked about you again.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Same thing as always. What you told us to say. That you’re fine, and that’s it. You know you’re an idiot, right?”
“So I’ve heard.”
“How long are you going to keep this up?”
“She deserves better than me.”
“I know it’s wrong, but I think about punching you a lot.”
“Thanks. That’s very helpful.”
“All right, you stubborn bastard. I know you won’t listen to me. Maybe the universe will send you a sign. God knows nothing else has been able to convince you. Oh, by the way, I’ve got a courier coming to you with something I found on your desk. He should be there any time.”
“What is it?”
“An inter-office memo envelope. No idea how long it’s been sitting there, but I figured you might want it.”
An inter-office memo. My heart starts to pound, but I try to keep my voice casual. “Great, thanks.”
“You got it. Talk to you soon.”
I wheel to the front of the rehab center and wait impatiently until the courier arrives. As soon as I’ve signed off for the package, I rip open the brown kraft envelope, withdraw the sheet of paper, and start to read.
Dear Mr. McCord,
Our last contact was two days ago. It’s amazing how many tears I’ve shed in forty-eight hours. Though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. When you lose such a big a part of yourself, it feels like you’ll never recover.
If I was too harsh on you, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hurting you, but even more than that, I’m sorry for my part in all of this. I should have listened when you told me to walk away that first night. I should have been more responsible. More careful. Less reckless with both our hearts.
I miss you terribly.
The only thing that makes it bearable is knowing you’re still out there somewhere. Well, more bearable, anyway. Right now, it feels as if I’m walking alone in the dark, not even bothering to search for a light at the end of the tunnel because I know there isn’t one.
I hope you won’t forget me. Because you carved your name into my heart, and it will stay there forever.
Yours in perpetuity,
Ms. Sanders
“Willa! Willa!”
Breathless, my heart pounding like mad, I wheel around the corner of the main reception area and down the hallway to the large, glassed-in physical therapy room, then make a beeline to where she stands talking with one of the center’s doctors.
“Willa! I need you! Right now!”
She looks at me with lifted brows and an amused expression. “Good morning, Cole. Where’s the fire?”
In my veins, but I don’t say that. I don’t want to sound like a lunatic. “Let’s try the quad crutches again.”
“You sure? I recall a large amount of F-bombs were dropped last time we tried the quad crutches.”
She’s teasing, but I know she’s pleased. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“All right, let’s get started. Just woke up this morning feeling ambitious, did you?”
Shaking with adrenaline, I grin at her. “No. I got a sign from the universe.”
