A Thousand Broken Pieces – A Thousand Boy Kisses Read Online Tillie Cole

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary Tags Authors: Tillie Cole Advertisement1

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I followed Leo through the airport and out into arrivals. It only took me a few seconds to find them. Without even getting my luggage, I ran through the crowd and slammed into the arms of my mom and dad. Tears sprung to my eyes, and I whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” my mom said.

“Nothing at all,” my dad said, voice barely audible.

I reared back and saw their eyes were red. But there was happiness on their faces too. Their son was back, and I didn’t just mean in the physical sense. I might have still been healing, but I was closer to the boy I was before than the one who had been racked with grief.

Leo greeted my parents and explained to them what would happen next. I turned on my cell phone, and a single message came through.

PEACHES:

I love you so much. Always remember that. I know you can do this.

I sighed deeply. Then I texted her back one simple word.

ME:

Harvard

My mom linked her arm through mine, and we headed straight to the retreat. The hard work was just beginning, but the love I had for Savannah, for my mom, my dad, for myself … and for Cillian. The love I had for all of them would get me through.

And I would have Savannah back in my arms if it was the last thing I would do.

Homeward Hearts and Healing Souls

Savannah

AS WE BEGAN OUR DESCENT, I PULLED OUT THE LETTER CAEL HAD LEFT ME and read it one more time. At this point, it was committed to memory. But still, I read. Because it made me feel closer to him, even though he was miles away.

Peaches,

Please don’t be mad that I left. But I have to go. To be the man I need to be for you, for me, I need to go with Leo.

Please don’t think this means I’m leaving you. It’s the opposite. I am going so that, when we meet again, nothing will separate us. So that nothing will get in our way, and we can have the future we dreamed of. You are the love of my life.

When I came on this trip, I was shattered into a thousand broken pieces. But one by one, the closer we grew to one another, you glued me back together. I’m not fully healed yet, but I am determined to do it for us.

I love you, Peaches. Give me time, and I will run back to you as quickly as I can.

I love you,

Cael

I put the letter down and took out my cell phone. I’d been so angry at him for leaving me without saying goodbye. After everything we’d been through, I felt he owed me that much. In that moment, he had broken my heart. But when I spoke to him … I heard it. I heard how shattered he was. But I also heard the determination in his voice.

I ran my finger over the text he had sent me.

CAEL:

Harvard

I smiled and my heart swelled. That was what we were aiming for. I had started this trip wanting to heal enough to attend Harvard to become a doctor. It was still the goal, only this time it offered me so much more than I could have ever imagined. It now offered me a lifetime with Cael. A lifetime of loving him, of being by his side.

When the plane touched down in Atlanta, I sighed in happiness at the heat that gusted into the plane when the flight attendant opened the exit door. I turned on my phone. A text from Cael immediately came through.

CAEL:

I’m here at the retreat. They take away our phones except for a few times a week. I’ll message and call when I can. I love you and miss you.

My heart fluttered. I had total faith in him. If some time away from each other was the trade-off for keeping him forever, then I could happily live with that.

I deplaned and went to collect my luggage. The doors had barely opened into arrivals when I heard, “SAVANNAH!” I looked up just in time for Ida to come crashing into my arms.

I laughed as she jumped and threw her arms around my neck. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed. We laughed, and the sound was a symphony to my ears.

My sister.

My little sister.

Ida smacked a kiss to my cheek. “I’ve missed you so much!” she said and moved back. Her mouth dropped open dramatically as she surveyed me. “You look incredible, Sav!” She leaned in close. “Is this because of Cael?”

I laughed at her suggestive face. I had missed her. And not just on this trip. I had missed her for four years. I hadn’t let her in. That would change from now on.

“I’ve missed you,” I said and pulled her back to me. “Sorry for not being there for you.”


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