Don't Need You - Lilian Monroe Page 0,55

heading out the door and into my car. The drive to Seattle is long. A cold, drizzly rain makes the asphalt slick, and my mind keeps drifting to what I’m leaving behind in Woodvale.

For the first time, I truly understand Finn’s position. I understand being hit in the gut with emotions you don’t expect. I understand being stuck between loyalty to a friend, and the burning need to be with the woman you…ah, hell. I’ll just say it. The woman you love.

As I drive toward Seattle—toward Robbie, and the hard conversation I know we’ll have—I forgive Finn. It happens like a light switch being flicked in my brain. One moment, I’m clinging onto the last remnant of my bitterness and the next, it’s gone.

Forgiveness feels good. I stretch my neck from side to side, rolling my shoulders and loosening my back muscles. My fingers flex and unflex over the steering wheel, and I let out a long sigh. Tightness in my chest eases, letting me take a full breath for the first time in months.

A soft smile tugs at my lips, and I know I have Serena to thank for this. If she hadn’t come into my life, I would’ve clung onto my anger for a long time. Maybe forever. I would have used it as a guiding light, tainting my relationship with Finn and Esme for the foreseeable future. I would have isolated myself and let our friendship deteriorate.

Now, though?

The truth is visible. The bounty of forgiveness and love is available to me. My friendship with Finn and my relationship with Esme can be mended. Truly.

“Thank you,” I whisper in the silence of my car, knowing it’s Serena’s presence who pushed me here.

But when I see Robbie in the staff lounge at the airport, my stomach clenches again. I square my shoulders, prepared to have a tough conversation with him. He has his back to me, sitting in a comfy leather chair in the back corner. His hat is hanging off the handle of his roller suitcase, his hand gripping the edge of the seat. As I get closer, I see him holding a phone to his ear.

“…She’ll be back for Christmas, Mother.” He sighs. “I know we should have told you, but it came up quickly. Uh-huh. Uh-huh.” I come into view, arching an eyebrow. He lets out another sigh. “I have to go. I’ll see you in a few weeks. Bye.”

I flop down into the seat across from him.

“My family,” he explains. “Not happy about Serena leaving.”

“She’s an adult. She can leave if she wants to.”

“You don’t understand. My family”—he shakes his head—“they’re overbearing at the best of times.”

“They don’t want Serena living in Woodvale?”

“If my mother could keep her locked up in her childhood bedroom and only let her out to marry that prick, Angelo, she’d do it.” Robbie’s face is dark, his words bitter. “She means well, but it’s not exactly healthy.” His phone rings again, his mother’s name flashing on the screen, and he clicks the side button on his phone to ignore the call.

Not a great time to tell him I’d love to date his sister, then. My carefully crafted speech flies out of my head, and I sit there, bouncing my knee up and down.

Robbie jerks his head at me. “How is Serena anyway? I haven’t heard from her in a couple of days.”

“Good,” I answer, trying to sound casual. “She’s settling in really well. I think my friends like her more than me.”

Robbie chuckles, the lines in his face softening. “She has that effect on people.”

“Yeah,” I answer, a flush rising up my neck.

This is my chance. This is when I man up, look him in the eye, and tell him I have feelings for her. This is my chance, and the longer I wait, the harder it’ll get.

“Robbie,” I start, clearing my throat. “I, uh…” My voice trails off, and I lift my eyes to meet his.

My friend frowns, tilting his head. “Yeah? Is everything okay?” His phone buzzes again, and once more, he ignores the call.

“You need to get that?”

He shakes his head. “Just my mother wanting to chew my ear off. What’s going on? Is Serena okay?”

“Fine. Everything’s fine.” I gulp, cursing how nervous I am. I grip my knee to stop it from bouncing, leaning forward as I suck in a deep breath. “Serena and I…we like each other. A lot.”

Robbie frowns, more confused than anything.

He says nothing, so I continue. “I didn’t want to go behind