Because of Low Page 0,72

girls when his voice stopped me. "She didn't know." I froze.

"She was devastated. She'd just figured it out. She was there, at the house, having a complete emotional breakdown when you walked in."

I swallowed hard. Did I want to hear this?

"She stripped me bare by listing every person I'd hurt with my actions. She pointed out every sin I'd committed and she praised the one person who'd been left to pick up the pieces. She praised him rather passionately. How he'd been the one to hold the family I'd betrayed together. She also told me how much she loved him and how my actions and her sister's actions were going to be the reason she lost him."

I grabbed hold of the chair beside me. My knees went weak. The ache from hearing Larissa ask for Will ow was nothing compared to the pain searing through my chest.

The things I'd said. Oh, God no.

"She's been left her whole life. She's a good girl. Larissa adores her. Where her sister lacks in many honorable traits Will ow seems to have them in abundance." I'd left her.

Just like she feared.

The memory of her face when she'd walked into the bedroom that day before my sister had called. She'd looked completely broken, devastated, lost. She'd just found out. She'd come to tell me. And I'd had to leave.

She hadn't known.

"What's wrong?" Amanda ask as she walked into the room.

I lifted my head and looked at her. "She didn't know," I whispered horrified as the words echoed in my head that I'd yelled at her that night as she pleaded with me to stop.

"I never thought she did," Amanda replied. The sadness in her voice was unmistakable. "I tried to tell you that I was pretty sure she was innocent but you wouldn't listen to me. I wasn't allowed to even speak her name. Every time I tried to talk to you about Will ow you ended up so stupid drunk you couldn't walk."

She knew as well as I did that I'd lost Low, and it was all my fault.

Willow

Dinner with Tawny and Jefferson hadn't been too bad.

Larissa had latched onto me and hadn't let go. I'd even tucked her in and read to her until she fell asleep. I knew there was no way I could handle hearing her cry for me when I left. The way she'd clung to me reminded me of how I felt. Afraid I'd lose someone I loved. I wasn't going to stay away any longer. I'd discussed with Tawny meeting her half way and getting Larissa one night a week. That way I could spend time with just her and not have to face that house again. Surprisingly Jefferson was behind the idea one hundred percent. He apparently didn't like Larissa crying for me either. I wanted to hate him but when I watched him with Larissa it made it hard. Things happen in life and you can't control them. It sucks and you have to move on.

Holding a grudge against Tawny and Jefferson was pointless. It only hurt Larissa and she was innocent.

Cage's bedroom door opened and he walked out, frowning.

"Are you sure you're okay with this? I'd feel better about going if you'd come too."

I shook my head. I wasn't going to be his shadow anymore.

He needed to get back to his life. Tonight I wanted him to go out and have a good time with his friends. I was fine right here.

"I have chocolate ice cream and two seasons worth of True Blood. So go. Me and vampire Eric will be just fine. I promise."

He sighed and reached over and hugged me, "Okay fine.

I'm going. But you call me the minute you feel an anxiety attack or just if you get upset or---"

"Cage, GO now," I pointed toward the door.

"I'm going. But I've got my phone with me."

"I heard you, Cage. Go."

Once the door closed behind him I got out my chocolate ice cream and headed for the couch. Tonight I would forget about everything except hot viking vampires.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Marcus

"Don't look now but Cage is headed this way," Dewayne muttered, jerking me back to the present. I'd gotten lost in my thoughts. Since Dad had informed me how incredibly wrong I'd been about Will ow, I'd done nothing but replay every awful word I'd said to her. I searched the crowd until I found Cage walking our way. He was alone.

"Sorry man, I didn't know he was going to be here tonight or I'd have