would talk for hours. We knew better than to give up on one another but I guess all things happen for a reason, right? I’ll give him his space but I don’t want it to last for very long. I’m hoping this is just a phase and a test of our love.
As soon as Mills pulls up to his house and I hop out, I stop him before he can put his car in drive. I’ve been thinking about it since this morning and now I feel like it’s the best thing to do.
“Do you think you can drop me off at the airport now? My flight isn’t until five but I’d rather get there early to beat traffic and stuff, you know?”
Mills sighs, putting the car in park. For a moment I think he’s going to figure out why I want to leave so early but when he says, “Yeah. Anything that will keep me away from the wake,” a rush of relief takes over me.
I stare into Mills’s tired eyes before nodding. “I’ll be quick,” I tell him before shutting the door and dashing for the garage.
I hurry and pack all of my things quickly, just in case Nolan happens to show up. I don’t want to leave without a proper goodbye but how can I say goodbye when it will feel like it’s meant to be that way forever? How can I go through with looking him in the eye and saying farewell? I know it’s going to kill me so I refuse to make it happen. I’ll just give him his space, like he asked.
Sighing, I step out of Nolan’s room with my tote bag and my suitcase. I rest my tote on the table and look around, debating on how I’ll actually let him know that I’m gone. As soon as it clicks, I unzip my tote and pull out a scrap sheet of yellow paper and a pen.
I write until my vision blurs and a few teardrops land on the paper and the table. Finally placing the cap on my pen, I lay the paper on the center of the table and take a deep breath. Before I can let the tears get to me, I grip the handles of my tote bag and suitcase and step out of the house, inhaling deeply and leaving nothing behind but the pain within my words.
Chapter Eight
Nolan
“Where’s Mills?” my aunt Macy asks. I turn to my right, looking at her with a shrug.
“Not sure, Aunt Macy.”
She nods, placing a hand on the sleeve of my suit. I stare down at her, watching as she swallows heavily. “Leona was a great sister and mother, you know that right?” she asks. “She loved you boys but I know it was a mistake to let you go. I’m glad you forgave her and came back to take care of her. It makes me so proud. It lets me know she raised you two the right way.”
My throat becomes scratchy but I take a sip of wine to block it. “Thanks.”
She smiles, her stained red lips stretching against her pale skin. Aunt Macy looks just like my mom and it makes it worse. They’re practically twins with the same curly, dark-brown hair, bright grey eyes, and button nose. They’re the same height and everything and I think the only reason anyone can tell the difference between them is because of the wrinkles forming around Aunt Macy’s eyes. She’s six years older than my mother.
“I have someone here I would like you to meet,” she says, circling her finger around the rim of her wine glass. “I just met her earlier. She’s an adorable young lady and she was one of Leona’s best students at the university.”
I shrug. I’ve been introduced and bombarded by all of the other random people who think they knew my mother so well. Why not add another? “Where is she?”
“She’s outside with a few classmates. Let me go and get her.”
Aunt Macy walks off and trails her way outside. Deciding I need more wine, I turn for the kitchen of her house and grab the bottle. I fill it halfway but then Natalie comes to mind. I hate what I’d said to her but I felt like it was needed. She’s supposed to be here right now but I don’t know where she is. I wasn’t expecting Mills to arrive early. I knew he wasn’t going to be up for the crowd and the people paying their