Page 137 of Sunday Morning
The next morning,I went for a jog instead of reaching for a much-needed cigarette. By the time I returned, Sarah was dressed and packed.
“Where to next?” She grinned, eating a frosted toaster pastry on the bed.
I peeled off my shirt. “We’re getting Anakin and heading home.”
She stopped mid-chew as more crumbs fell onto the bed.
“I have to take care of a few things before we pack the rest of our belongings.”
“Then where are we going?”
“Someplace you can sing your heart out every night.” I stepped into the bathroom.
“Nashville?” Her voice jumped a full octave.
I grinned, turning on the shower.
“Are we going tolivethere?” she asked, standing in the doorway.
I tossed my shorts and briefs onto the floor and stepped into the shower. “If you want to.”
“Isaac! Oh my gosh! I can’t wait to tell Hea?—”
I winced while washing my hair. Then I quickly soaped the rest of my body, rinsed, and dried off.
She was outside of our second-story room, resting her arms on the railing that overlooked the parking lot. I stepped into my jeans and opened the door.
Sarah sniffled, quickly wiping her eyes.
“Tell Eve. You said the two of you have gotten closer,” I said.
“I want to tell Heather,” she murmured in a weak voice. “I want to tell her how much I love you. I want to tell her I’ve been living my dream. I want to tell her about the bull that got loose at the last rodeo and scared everyone to death. I want to tell her about those tacos we had last week that were the best tacos I’ve ever had.”
Pulling her back to my chest, I dipped my head and kissed her neck. “I think you just did.”
“It’s so unfair.” She hugged my arms.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
WHITNEY HOUSTON, “SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU”
Sarah
Matt didn’t tell me.
I replayed our last exchange. What would I have said or done differently had I known about Violet’s affair? Was I a terrible person?
My friends were dead. I destroyed my boyfriend when he was on the precipice of having his whole world turned upside down. What made me special?
Why did I get to ride off into the sunset and live out my dreams?
“You’re awfully quiet,” Isaac said as we reached the outskirts of Devil’s Head.
“It’s just …” I shook my head.
“Just what?” He rested his hand on my leg.
I kept my gaze out the window. “This isn’t how I imagined things going. I didn’t think I’d have to choose between aman and my family. I didn’t think I’d break Matt’s heart. And I definitely didn’t imagine my selfishness leading to the loss of lives.”