Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
I was hit with an immediate longing for Grayson, who was the most even-tempered of us all.
“I’m sorry,” Paisley started, already tearing up. “I’m so sorry for abandoning you when you needed me most. I can make a thousand excuses, but the truth is I should have been the one to call you. I should have been the one to sit with you and comfort you…and, well, I should have done a lot of things. I knew how much you loved him, and I had hoped that you two would have a future. I so wanted that for you. And you’re right. It isn’t fair that you never got that chance, and it isn’t fair that I wasn’t there for you, especially when you’ve always been there for me.”
The pure misery in her voice hurt my soul. Regardless of the last two years, she was my very best friend. Two years of neglect didn’t negate a lifetime of love and support.
Jagger reached for her hand and laced their fingers on the tabletop.
“I know you had your hands full,” I said softly, warming my hands with my coffee mug. “Jagger’s health was your first concern, as it should have been. No one could expect you to balance a wounded husband, pregnancy, and a grieving best friend.”
“You could have.” She shook her head. “You should have. And I’m sorry for what I said to Josh that day in the cemetery. I tried to soothe his guilt, and instead I hurt you immeasurably with incredibly thoughtless words. You have my deepest apology, Morgan.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, but it wasn’t anxiety. “Thank you.”
“There are so many things that I need to apologize for, and I hope you’ll give me that chance. I love you. You’re the only sister I have left.” She swatted away a tear.
“I’m sorry for unleashing my temper on you yesterday.” I turned the cup in a nervous fidget.
“No,” Ember chided. “It was a long time coming, and we deserved every word of it. I just wish you’d lost your shit on us two years ago. I’m so sorry that I didn’t see how much pain you were in at the funeral. That I didn’t see it at my wedding, or Sam’s.”
The lump in my throat grew. “That’s not your fault.”
“I’m mostly sorry that I didn’t tell you that I talked to Will right before he came down to see you.” Her face contorted as she struggled for control. “I should have told you that he said you were perfect. He told me you were funny, and gorgeous, and reminded him who he really was underneath everything else.”
My chest constricted, and my nose started to burn.
“I don’t think he took so long to come around because he didn’t want to be with you,” she continued. “It was because he thought you deserved someone who had a whole heart to give. He was trying to protect you. He wanted to be certain that he could love you the way you loved him, and when he left that night, he was hopeful about a future with you.” She smiled, but it was shaky. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you that sooner.”
I tried to straighten my puckered, crumpled face and failed. “Thank you for telling me now.” It was so similar to what he’d said that night. To what he’d said in the video.
“I’m sorry I’m here and he’s not,” Jagger admitted in a near-whisper.
“God, no. Jagger, no.” I shook my head violently.
“Hey, you got to unload yesterday, and now it’s our turn.” A corner of his mouth lifted. “I think about him every day. I think about him in the moments I’m happiest, because he’ll never get the chances I’ve had. He’ll never get to see you wear white or watch you carry his child. I might not say it, but trust me, I think it. We all knew you two were inevitable. We just didn’t know what was coming for us. I’m so fucking sorry for your loss, Morgan, and for the time it took us all to finally say it.”
The warmth of the mug started to burn, but I didn’t release it. “The truth is that Will had the chance to do all that. He just didn’t take it. Not in time, at least. That’s on him, not on you, Jagger. He wanted you to live because he made a promise to Peyton that he’d always take care of Paisley, and that’s what he did. He took care of Paisley and your son. Damn if that boy didn’t love a good promise.”
My eyes fell to my cup and then rose to Sam when she tapped her finger on the table in distraction.
“I’m sorry I let you put the necklace in with him.”
My jaw slackened.
“You wear that boy like a shield of armor around your heart, and I can’t help but feel like I let you bury yourself with him that day.” She forced a smile. “Oh, and I’m sorry that I left you our first day here to run for tequila that you couldn’t even drink, but I guess it all turned out okay.” She glanced around Jackson’s house and then smiled.