30 Days (Lost Love Trilogy #1) - Belle Brooks Page 0,72
this.” I sit upright.
“I have to admit this is a lot to take in. I’m a pretty chilled person, but if I were in your shoes right now, I’d be freaking the fuck out. This is crazy.”
“You’re telling me.”
Mosby sits in the chair beside me. “Sammy is struggling, Abs. You need to go easy on her.”
“Where is she?”
“Where you left her. I think she hoped this day would never come, but strangely, I think she also hoped it would. I don’t think she’s prepared for it as much as she thought she’d be.” Jackson runs his fingers over his prickled head and offers me a half smile. “She loves you, Abs, always has and always will. Kindred sisters—isn’t that how you two refer to one another?” His smile grows slightly.
“A kindred sister would never do this to the other, Jackson—”
“I disagree. They would. Think about it—if you had to protect Samantha, you would, without a second thought. I know it’s true. You can deny it all you want, but it’s true.”
Taking a long inhale, I rest my head against Jackson’s strong arm. “This entire situation blows. Do you believe I’m cursed now?”
“You know I don’t believe in hexes and voodoo magic. But I can see why you do. A lot of bad shit seems to happen to you, but I have a feeling it’s all leading to something truly wonderful, not awful.”
“You a fortune-teller, Mosby?”
He guffaws. “If only. Hey, maybe if I were, I could tell you how great this would end and then your heart wouldn’t hurt so badly.”
“Yeah.” Closing my eyes, I inhale the full scent that is Jackson Mosby. Manly, yet musky. The smell of comfort and security. “I feel betrayed, you know? Mum, Sammy … Shit, does everybody else know I’m living in a Make Believe Land?”
“I’d hardly call it Make Believe. But I can understand why you’re thinking this way.” Mosby brushes his fingertips over my hairline. “To answer your question, I’m not sure, to be honest. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.” Mosby moves his hand to the back of my neck and kisses the side of my head. “Hey, Abs?”
“Yeah?”
“Is Marcus the booty call from the coast?”
I take my bottom lip between my teeth momentarily. “Yep. You want to know what’s ironic about that now?”
“Sure. Ironic I enjoy.”
“I think Marcus was my first.”
“First fuck?” His voice goes high on the words.
“Yep.” I smirk.
“Seriously?”
“I’m pretty sure of it.”
“Well, there you go. You slept with a man in a one-night stand whom you’d already slept with.” As the words leave his lips, we both burst into hysterical laughter. Mosby always makes everything better.
“What’s so funny, you two?” Sammy asks as she comes in through the sliding doors.
“Nothing,” Jackson snickers.
“Well, okay then,” Sammy sings.
“Hey, that’s my thing,” I scoff. “Can you see how much your woman wants to be me? Can’t blame her, really. I’m a pretty awesome, hexed, fucked up, and mega-crazy person.”
“That you are, Abs, that you are,” Mosby chortles, leaning his head against mine.
Sitting across from us, Sammy stares into my eyes. She looks zapped of strength and courage. I hate this look.
“So, when did he give you that back?” Her finger points at my neck.
“Huh?”
“The necklace.”
Huh. It must have fallen against my shoulder as I cuddled into Mosby. “This was mine before?”
“It sure was. He didn’t tell you, did he?”
“No.” I sit up and then take the locket between my fingertips.
“He really hasn’t told you much at all, has he?”
“Nope.”
“So how did you get the locket back?”
“It was on the bed the first morning I woke up here. I wondered how he had purchased it so late at night.”
“Let me guess, in a white box?”
“Yes.” My brow must furrow because Sammy’s does the same.
“The same way he gave it to you the first time.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Graduation present.”
“But I didn’t go to grad. I’d just lost Dad.”
“I know. Have you opened it and looked inside?”
“No.” I play with the charm between my fingertips. “Do I want to?”
“You do.” Sammy’s eyes soften. “Here, let me help you.” She stands and makes her way around the table. Sammy’s gentle touch on the back of my neck gives me the shivers. The clasp undoes and the chain falls limply around my hand as Ginger takes her seat once more. “Well?”
With a heart beating so strongly, I open the locket and lay it flat on my palm. I read the two words engraved, “Forever mine,” out loud in a soft voice.