to it. My son is lucky to have someone who loves him enough to sacrifice her own happiness for his.”
Her words instantly lift some of the pressure on my chest. I’ve been questioning my decision not to tell Cole, wondering if it was selfish. It’s nice to hear someone tell me I made the right choice.
“He would do the same for me,” I offer.
“That he would.” She nods. “Do you think this boy is planning to tell him?”
This question plagues my thoughts daily. It’s like I’m holding my breath, waiting for Shane to take everything away from me again. “I can’t be sure, but it’s been weeks. Neither of us have heard a word from him.”
“Good. Now, you listen to me.” She takes my hand, squeezing it as her sad eyes lock onto mine. “This is not your baggage, and I don’t want you letting it weigh you down. There’s only one person Cole should hear this from, and I’m not about to spoil his happiness. That man has taken enough from us. Promise me you’ll let it go. For both of you. Don’t let anything come between you two again.”
It feels like I’ve been absolved from the guilt I’ve been dragging around since Shane dumped this shit on me. Like Cole and I are truly getting a fresh start now, without the ghost of the past haunting us.
Tears spring to my eyes as I nod. “I promise.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Present
COLE
The crowd cheers as Arwen is crowned homecoming queen on the field with Aidan at her side, while Thatcher and I laugh. It might be the most entertaining thing either of us have ever seen. We never thought we’d see the day Arwen would attend homecoming, let alone be part of the fucking homecoming court.
After nearly blowing things with Aidan, Arwen decided to win him back with a grand gesture in front of the entire school. That little stunt is what got her nominated and ultimately crowned. It’s also how we all got roped into participating in homecoming weekend to begin with. There was no way we were going to miss this moment.
Badass, tough as nails Arwen Sullyvan is homecoming queen. Priceless.
My mother is down on the field with Patrick, cheering for Arwen louder than anyone else here. The announcement of their relationship didn’t come as a surprise to me, but I worried how Arwen would take the news. She’s never quite gotten over the death of her mother. I suppose that’s something we’ve always had in common: mourning a parent.
To my surprise, she was extremely happy about the news. She said she always hoped her father would find love and happiness again, and the fact that she already loved my mom made it that much better.
The bleachers grow quiet once everyone starts to clear the field. Arwen looks up from the sidelines, pinning us down with her glare. She’s sure to give us hell later for laughing.
“I think her royal highness is pissed at us,” I joke with Thatcher. “We better be careful. That crown has some pointy edges. She might try to use it as a weapon.”
“Be nice,” Gwen scolds, elbowing me in the side.
Gwen taking up for Arwen might be even more bizarre than the scene playing out in front of me. The two of them started out merely playing nice for mine and Aidan’s benefit, but they’ve actually become pretty good friends.
My arm tightens around her shoulders as I lean down to kiss her on the head. “Come on. You’ve got to admit it’s a little funny.”
Her lips twist with the shake of her head. “I think it’s sweet she’s trying so hard to be part of Aidan’s world.”
“Exactly,” Thatcher chimes in. “Arwen doesn’t do sweet.”
“That’s not true,” Violet protests, popping her head out around Thatcher. “She just shows affection in her own way.”
Saint always sees the best in people. It’s one of the reasons we all love her so much. But she’s right. Arwen is good to the people she loves. She has a tendency to care deeply. That’s why she’s so selective about who she lets get close to her.
Raising my eyebrows, I chuckle and meet Thatcher’s gaze. “I think we’re outnumbered.”
He shrugs. “Welcome to my world. It’s been that way for me since you and my other traitorous best friend started siding with Saint.”
“I’m a loveable person,” Violet quips. “It’s not their fault.”
A genuine smile spreads across Thatcher’s face as he gazes at his girl. “Trust me, I’m well aware of how impossible it is