Page 12 of The Lilac River

“We run,” I said without hesitation. “I’ll pick you up in the middle of the night and we’ll just go.”

She kissed me then, slow and deep, like she believed me. Like nothing could ever pull us apart.

That was the last time I held her. The last time she told me she loved me.

The night before she vanished.

She looked the same. Golden hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. That mouth, still the shape of temptation. Eyes like summer storms. Eyes that used to undo me.

“Heard you were back, Lily. I just hoped it wasn’t true.”

The words came out sharp. Too sharp. A lie wrapped in steel. I had hoped she was back. I just hadn’t hoped toseeher.

Because seeing her? That cracked everything wide open.

Her lip trembled. Barely. But enough.

“It seems I’m all out of good luck,” I said again, the snarl rough in my throat.

She flinched. Good. Let her hurt like I hurt.

“N-Nash, it’s?—”

“Don’t say it’s good to see me.” My hands shoved deep into my pockets. Fists clenched, knuckles burning. My body thrummed with memory, with want, withanger. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

“Can we at least be civil?” she asked, one arm wrapping around herself like she needed to stay in one piece.

“Don’t even think about saying it, Lily,” I growled. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“I’m sorry, Nash.”

The words slipped out soft. Too soft. Too late.

My chest cracked open. “Sorry?”

“Yes.” Her voice barely carried. I stared at the soft place on her neck I used to kiss to make her laugh. To make her melt.

“Sorry,” I echoed, the word bitter. “Ten years, Lila. And that’s what you’ve got?”

She bit her lip, nervous. I hated that I noticed. Hated that I still wanted to kiss her.

I lifted my hand to cut her off, but froze as Sloane Evers, Editor of the town’s newspaper and biggest gossip, stepped up.

“Hello, Nash. Lily,” she said, eyes gleaming. Phone already in hand. “Now, isn’t this cozy. Got anything to tell me? A nice story about a second chance romance would be great for the paper and the website.”

“Sloane,” I warned, covering her screen. “This isn’t newsworthy. Just saying hello.”

Lily shuffled beside me.

“Just catching up then?” Sloane smirked. “Wanderlust all out of your system?” she asked Lily.

“Something like that,” Lily murmured. “I should—” she gestured at the store.

“No, no. You two go ahead.” Sloane smirked at me with an arched, perfectly plucked eyebrow. “Finish your…chat.” With afinger wave she walked away, heels snapping across the sidewalk like punctuation marks.

I turned back to Lily. “You don’t get to walk away that easily.”

She stopped. Head tipped to the sky. “I don’t know what else to say to you, Nash. I already said sorry. I don’t have more than that.”