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It beats the darkness.

Be on the watch.

The gods will offer you chances.

Know them.

Take them.

You can’t beat death but

You can beat death in life, sometimes,

And the more often you learn to do it

The more light there will be.

Your life is your life.

Know it while you have it.

You are marvelous

The gods wait to delight

In you.”

Tears pool in her eyes. “Will you write it down for me before you leave?”

“I can, but I’ll also bring the book over tomorrow.”

She pulls up her legs and hugs them, a clear indication she’s ready to have a serious conversation with me. She’s preparing by shielding herself.

“You were one of my chances, and after meeting you, more and more light has come in,” she says quietly.

“I feel the same about you.”

She makes a little sound like she doesn’t believe me, but she doesn’t voice it out loud. “I do want to be the light to you and others, but I’ll admit I’m having a hard time trusting myself.”Her gaze goes to the house before she continues. “I trusted myself with Graham. He was the first person who really noticed me, and he made me feel special.” Her cheeks redden, but she goes on. “Having someone’s full attention felt so good until it didn’t.”

She takes a deep breath.

“Anyway, you don’t need to hear the details, but I blamed myself for enticing him. The first time …” She stops there and shakes her head. “I was so ashamed of myself, but after a few more times, it became my personality. Each encounter with him, or anyone for that matter, validated who I was over and over again. I lived for the little attention they gave me, but that was all I ever got. There were never any dates or flowers.”

She releases her grip on her legs and scoots herself onto my lap.

“And then I met you. You ignored all of my inappropriate advances, yet you kept showing up.” She kisses me softly on the lips. “Day after day after day.” Her kisses become frantic.

I brace my hands on each side of her face, holding her still. “I’ll fucking spend every day of my life showing up for you, Lexie. Trust yourself. Trust me.”

Chapter Forty-Six

Lexie

Ash watches my hand as he recites his favorite poem again.

“That pen is beautiful, Ash,” Elizabeth says, observing over my shoulder.

He flashes her with a brilliant smile before returning his focus to me. “I know. I couldn’t wait to see her write with it.”