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“You couldn’t have done it,” I say.

“I could have.”

I smile, but it’s not from happiness. It’s because he knows just as well as I do that he would have been miserable.

“I could have tried,” he says.

“And you would have eventually hated me for it. We just weren’t meant to be, Danny. And that’s all there is.”

Chapter Eight

Bexley

2006

Completely heartbroken, I watch as they take Danny away in the cop car. Should I have stopped this? Should I have forgiven him and none of this would have happened? I wipe my face, gazing at the blue lights until they disappear from my sight.Why couldn’t he have shown up?

That’s all he had to do. All I wanted was to go to this stupid prom with my boyfriend. But even as that thought runs through my mind, I know it’s ridiculous. Danny isn’t your average boyfriend. He’s a criminal. He’s always going to be a criminal.

He hit his brother and my uncle. He’s no good for me.

And it hurts.

God, it hurts.

“Bexley,” Uncle Hale says. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

I look out at Samuel, who’s also staring at his brother with his hands slid into his slacks’ pockets. “I’ll be inside in a minute,” I say, walking away from the steps. I stop and slip my shoes off, leaving them on the sidewalk as I make my way out to Samuel.

He turns when he hears me coming. “Hey,” he says.

I give him a nod, my throat closing up as I think about everything that just happened. I put my hands on my face, looking down the road and trying to gather my thoughts. I give myself a pep talk.

You are stronger than this. Yes, you love him, but sometimes love isn’t enough, girl. You knew from the beginning what he did was going to end you two and yet, you still decided to take a chance. You’ll never have to say what if, but you can say I tried.

Move on.

My heart crosses her arms and hangs her head. How do you move on from someone like Danny? He’s been my reason since I was a little girl. And now I’m just supposed to let it all go?

I can’t seem to get my mind and heart to agree on anything right now. “I’m sorry,” I say to Samuel.

He looks down at me. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

I scoff. “Please, just stop being so nice. You wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me.”

“No, I wouldn’t be here if Danny would have shown up.”

I blink, looking at his nose. “Is it broken?”

“Think so,” he says. “It hurts pretty bad.”

I make a face. “I can’t believe he hit you.”

And then I follow it by saying, “Yes, I can.”

“Yeah, I expected it. I just thought I would have fought back. Something made me stop, though.”

“What?” I ask.