Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
My heart physically hurt as I took in the streets of Ardnoch. On every single one, I saw the ghosts of me and Lewis. As kids riding our bikes through the streets. Then as teens, ducking down quiet lanes to make out beyond the eyes of the local gossips. His arms around me, his hand in mine, our laughter ringing in the air.
I didn’t believe happiness was a constant. I believed we had moments of happiness that made life worthwhile.
But I didn’t use to think that. Back then, with him, I was happy almost all the time.
Pain long buried thickened my throat as those memories hit me in wave after wave.
This was the drawback to coming home.
Lewis was everywhere.
And nowhere.
Because he was gone.
And I hated him for it.
I wished, after all these years, I could be over it.
But I despised Lewis Adair for not loving me enough.
For tainting my home with memories so sweet, they stung like razor cuts.
“You okay over there?” Mum asked as we pulled into our cul-de-sac.
“I’m fine,” I lied. But it wouldn’t be a lie forever. Just because Lewis Adair had shattered my heart seven years ago didn’t mean I was ready to give up on love.
In fact, now that I was home, I was determined to be open to a deep, meaningful relationship. I’d plant new memories with a new guy here, and I’d erase every single ghost of Lewis from the streets of Ardnoch.
As if I’d conjured thoughts of them, my phone buzzed in my purse, and when I pulled it out, I tensed at the name on the screen. Eilidh.
Come to my wrap party next weekend. Not an invite, but a command. You haven’t been to any of my TV stuff, and I’m prepared to guilt you into it.
“Who is it?” Mum asked as she parked on our drive behind Dad’s Volvo.
“Eilidh. She wants me to go to her wrap party next weekend. She’s practically demanding I go.”
“Then you should go.”
“It’s in London.”
“It’s a quick flight.”
I nodded, my thumbs poised over the screen. Then, “Do you think he’ll be there?”
Mum hesitated a second. “I don’t know. I do know he graduated last week and has a permanent position at a firm in London—”
“How do you know that?”
She gave me a strained smile. “You know Regan and I are friends, and we made a pact not to let what happened between you and Lewis come between us. She was excited and proud and wanted to share her news about her son.”
That was fair. Even if it was the one part of small-town life that had proven to be a pain in the arse. “So, he might be there.”
“Who knows? He might be too busy for a party. Are you really going to let him stop you from doing what you want? You haven’t before.”
True. I wanted to go to Eilidh’s wrap party. It sounded fun. And I missed her. Although we spoke every week, I hadn’t seen her in over a year. She came to Paris for a few days at the beginning of last year, but that was the last time we’d seen each other in person.
I’ll be there. Just tell me where and when.
Mum chuckled as she got out of the car. “I take it you said yes.”
“I did.”
“Good. Guess you need to book some flights.”
My phone buzzed.
Ahhhhhhhh! I can’t wait to hug you and squeeze your gorgeous fucking face!!!
I burst into laughter. Eilidh was worth the risk of seeing Lewis, I promised myself. Even as my gut suddenly felt like an entire kaleidoscope of butterflies had taken up residence in it.
Four
CALLIE
NINE YEARS AGO
“Ican’t believe your parents are trusting you two to camp together,” Michael said with a knowing smirk.
“Uh, correction, they’re trusting us all to camp together … and they’re trusting Lewis. Not me.”
Our friends laughed as Lewis shook his head with a wry smile. He knew it was true. While my boyfriend had been a total gentleman the past year we’d been dating, I was the one leading the way with the physical part of our relationship. Lewis was all about taking it slow because he didn’t want me to feel rushed or to regret anything we did together.
“Our parents are cool with us,” Michael’s girlfriend, Lana, reminded him.
“And ours are trusting me and Fyfe,” Eilidh threw in as she helped Lewis’s best friend build his tent.
Fyfe looked up in panic. “Eh, what?”
I bit my lip against a smile as Lewis huffed, “You and Fyfe aren’t dating, Eils.”
“Only because Fyfe is stubborn.” She stood up, hand on her hip. Tumbles of black curls fell down her back, the dark hair and olive skin only making the blue of her eyes more striking. Even at fourteen, Eilidh Adair was a beauty. But still too young.
“And completely uninterested in you,” Lewis informed her gently.