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Please don’t tell me I was too late.
Anika snorts. “That’s like the least of your problems.”
“So she has?” I grit out.
“She told you she wouldn’t wait for you, Sterling,” Anika states. “But don’t worry. She’s not with anyone at the moment.”
I exhale softly. “Okay. So why can’t you tell me where she is?”
She hesitates. “I guess I’d better let Emilia explain everything herself. She’s with Carson. She moved to Greenville and is currently living with him.”
My brows furrows. “Why did she move?”
“You’d have to ask her. I’m only telling you where she is because the look in your eyes tells me you’d find out eventually on your own.”
She’s damn right I will. I came back to Edenton for one reason and one reason only. And I’m not going to stop until I get her back.
“Thank you for telling me,” I say to her sister.
Anika’s brown eyes peer at me curiously for a second. “Sterling, she’s happy right now. And I don’t mean how she was when two years ago. She’s not pretending anymore—she’s really found inner peace, happiness.”
Well done, angel.I’m glad she kept her promise.
“I’m not going to ruin that, Anika. That’s the last thing I’d want to do.”
“You might not intend to, but it could always happen. I’m a sucker for epic romances and I think what you two have is really special. I’m so glad you’re back, but the truth is, you really broke her heart when you left that last time. I know you didn’t have a choice; I understand the choices you made. But she’s my sister and I was the one who held her while she was crying on the floor, wishing you didn’t have to leave.”
My stomach takes a nose dive, plunging to the ground. I always knew I hurt Emilia when I left. She tried so hard to keep up a brave face, but I could tell. I just didn’t realize I caused her so much pain.
Fucking hell, Sterling.
“I’ll fix it,” I assure Anika. “I’ll fix everything.”
She smiles sadly. “I really hope you can. When are you going to Greenville?”
“Right now,” I reply. No time like the present. Two years has been more than enough time. “Don’t tell her.”
“What?”
“Anika. Don’t warn her I’m on my way to Greenville.”
“A surprise sounds like a bad idea,” she says nervously.
“it won’t be a surprise, per se. Just don’t tell her. We both know your sister—if she knows I’m coming, she’ll steel herself, maybe hide how she’s really feeling. She won’t give me a chance if she’s able to prepare for my arrival.”
I can see her thinking over my words. Finally, she shrugs.
“You’ll have to go through Carson before you can get to her, anyway.”
I groan softly. “Great.”
“Don’t look so glum. Your best friend has been your most vocal supporter since you left. You’d be surprised.”
“That doesn’t sound like Carson,” I say warily.
“Two years is a long time. A lot has changed since then,” Anika states, getting to her feet.
She’s right. I’m not the same person I was two years ago. I worked hard to attain this version of myself. A version not broken, or tainted by grief. A version I want so badly for Emilia to be proud of. No, I know she’ll be proud.