Chapter 45

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Lola

The elevator doors close and the minute the car begins its descent, I throw my hand to my mouth to stifle my cry.

I didn’t want to give him up.

But I had to. There’s too much going on in my life.

I can’t deal with a secret relationship on top of everything else.

And it was stupid and careless of me to put his career at risk.

Walking away is the right thing to do.

I need to find my brother.

I tap the location tracker on Wade’s contact information to discover he’s reached Caulder Creek and text him.

Me:

I’m sorry.

My heart skips a beat, filling with hope when the reply message bubbles begin to bounce on the screen.

Wade:

I don’t blame you.

Me:

Kali is not to blame.

Wade:

She wasn’t protecting me.

Me:

She was. We need to talk.

Wade:

You’re really my sister?

Me:

Yeah. Is that okay?

Wade:

You’re incredible, Lola. I couldn’t wish for a better sister.

I step out of the elevator when it opens inside Jordy’s private garage.

My chest hiccups and an unattractive bubble of snot shoots from my nose as I laugh and cry at the same time, my emotions all over the place. I’m a mess.

I jump in my car to text him back.

Me:

So, you’re not mad at me?

Wade:

It’s not your fault. I might want to fuck up Graham’s face though. Maybe Marcus’s too.

Me:

He’s your dad and your boss. You might want to reconsider that.

Wade:

He’s not my dad.

Me:

I feel the same way about Miranda.

Wade:

Should we sign up for a voodoo doll making class?

His joking with me gives me some much-needed hope. I rest my head back against the headrest and let out a sigh of relief as I wipe my face and nose with the sleeve of my jumper.

Me:

Please come home.

Wade:

I need time.

Me:

Don’t be gone too long, please. I need to see you. I worry about you.

Wade:

And I worry about you. You’ve looked dreadful the past few days.

Me:

It’s just stress.

Wade:

You’ve been working your ass off.

Me

I have.

Wade:

You’re a complete surprise.

Me:

A good one, I hope?

Wade:

The best.

Me:

You’re not so bad yourself. You’re a brilliant hockey player.

Wade:

I quit.

Me:

Sleep on it.

Wade:

Decision made.

Me:

Don’t throw it all away. Don’t let them get to you. Marcus is your father. You’ll get used to that soon. It took me a while to get used to the news Miranda gave birth to me.

Wade:

I don’t think I’ll ever learn to live with Zane being my brother.

Me:

He slept with Miranda. It’s kinda funny.

Wade:

I’m not laughing.

Me:

If it had happened to anyone else, you’d be laughing.

Wade:

Ok, I’ll give you that.

Me:

Promise me you’ll come home.

Wade:

I will. I just don’t know when.

Me:

I need you here. I’m kinda freaking out.

Wade:

Don’t freak out. Stay low. Don’t speak to anyone. Rest, because you work too hard, and promise me you’ll be there when I finally sort all this shit out in my head and return.

Me:

I promise. I’m not going anywhere.

Wade:

Get to bed. It’s been a long day. We’ll speak tomorrow.

Me:

Goodnight, Wade.

Wade:

Goodnight, little sis… that’s going to be weird for a while ;)

I turn the keys in the ignition and shift my car into reverse, pressing the fob to open Jordy’s garage door.

Shit, how will I return it?

Fuck it, I’m keeping it as a memento. At least I’ll have something to remember him by.

I’m lying to myself… I’ll never forget him.

And I’m not sure I’ll be able to get over him either.

“Right, Universe. Enough now.” It’s only two weeks into the new year and I’ve had enough drama to last me a lifetime.

Surely there can’t be anymore.