That still doesn’t change the way I feel, and the truth that I’m terrified I’ll never be free of him.

“Raven?” Cher’s voice brings me back to the now.

“Yes?”

“Jesus. You’ve got to pull yourself together.” She shakes her head and stands.

“Brody, you’re gonna cook, and not just vegan crap.” She loops her arms with both of ours, and we start down the street.

I stop listening as they both laugh together, because even laughter hurts. More than anything else, I’m just so sad, and watching them makes it harder. No matter what Brody says, he never felt this way about me.

Wasted love.

“I’m gonna go for a swim.” I try to pull away.

“No, you’re going to take a shower, and then we are all going out tonight, and we’re gonna have fun.”

I turn to look up at her. Having given up on heels, flip flops are my shoes of choice these days.

“If I go out tonight, you promise I don’t have to go out again?”

“Um, no. But, if you go out tonight and have a smile and a laugh, then you don’t have to go out again for another week.” I roll my eyes at her.

“Again, it’s like I’m dealing with ninety-year-olds. Actually, the elderly would be more fun than you and old man Brody.” She shakes her head as both of us try avoiding the hat.

“For the love of God, we will go as long as you never wear this fucking thing again.” He pulls her hat off and tosses it up in the air while she screams and laughs, both of them running to try getting to it first as it floats down the street.

I want to be them. I want to never feel like this again.

I want…

I take a deep breath and follow them, because at the end of the day, even feeling like my heart has been damaged, I have them, and they won’t let me give up.

So, screw it. Cher wants to go clubbing? I will. Brody wants to stay and take over the balcony? It’s his. Without them, I’m not sure I’ll make it.

“Raven,” Cher screams for me. Shading my eyes, I stare down the street at them. It looks like she’s retrieved her hat, but Brody has tossed her over his shoulder.

I shake my head, and smile, yet I hear his voice in my head. “Do you dare?”

“Fuck you, Jett Powers, get out of my head,” I say, putting one foot in front of the other. One day it won’t feel like a chore. One day I’ll wake up and he’ll be gone.

One day…

Chapter Twenty-Eight

JETT

Beverly Hills, CA