Page 106 of Everything After

Emotionally, those two years were highly charged, and I made some horrific mistakes. I’m honest, I’d never felt so alone. Living in a strange country is far different than being a tourist, and Saffy hadn’t given a thought about me when she left. Yes, I had Holly, but her nursing school schedule was heavy due to her class and hospital clinics.

Saffy glanced up with tears in her eyes and for the first time I believed she understood the impact her selfish behavior had on me at the time.

“You’re right. I should have spoken up before you moved to Florida. I was ashamed that I’d begun a relationship with amarried man. I thought once I’d moved, and college life had begun, that I’d have been able to put that affair behind me. At the time, I figured he’d never leave his wife… not that I knew he was married when our relationship began. I was already in love by the time I found out. When I left Oklahoma, I truly believed we were over.”

“You’re a home wrecker, Saffy,” I mumbled. “No matter how it turned out, someone suffered because of you and your partner’s actions.”

“Grant wasn’t in a happy marriage. His wife had several affairs in their three-year marriage before he met me. Neither of us were looking to fall in love. I was focused on coming to Florida and he thought he’d hook up with me to get back at his wife for the way she’d treated him.”

“So you were supposed to be a revenge hookup and instead you fell in love?” I asked.

“Yeah. Lily, I really am sorry. I was young, and stupid… and you’re right, it was selfish of me. Love makes us do crazy things. I asked Grant to move to Miami and when he couldn’t make that happen, I just couldn’t bear to think of us living apart for three or four years. If I’m honest, I thought I would lose him, and…”

“So you chose and lost me instead?” I knew I sounded harsh, but it was the truth.

Saffy broke eye contact with me again and looked back to her hands. She began twisting her wedding ring on her finger and I continued to stare at her.

“Saffy knows what she did to you was wrong,” Holly interrupted. “And believe me, I roasted her for how she treated you. But you have Alfie, and you said yourself, you wouldn’t have the life you have now if you hadn’t come to Miami.”

“That’s true. In some perverse way, I should thank you for making me come to the US. I can forgive you for the sake of Holly, but we’ll never be close friends again. Not like we were.”

“That’s more than I’d hoped for,” Saffy replied.

“Then we’ll put the past behind us and move forward together to make sure that Holly’s surrounded by people who have her happiness at heart during her big day.”

“Thanks, Lily. I’m grateful that you can do that,” Saffy said with her hand over her heart.

“Alright, let’s get something to eat, and then I need to get back. Alfie’s got some guests he hasn’t seen for a long time at the house for the afternoon, and I’d like to go home to see them.”

With our disagreement behind us, we both put Holly first and for the rest of the lunch we all focused on her plans for her wedding and what our roles during the big day would be.

CHAPTER 58

ALFIE

Lily looked wiped out when Oscar opened the car door, and she climbed out beside the helipads. Her emerald eyes appeared dull, and I figured the meeting had drained her. Nevertheless, she still managed to make my heart race the moment I saw her again.

“Thanks, Oscar,” I said, then pulled Lily in for a long hug. Both of us stood there a fraction too long, enjoying the physical contact. I took another moment to breathe her in, filling my lungs with her heady, intoxicating scent before stepping back.

“Missed you, baby. How did it go?” I asked while I reached for Lily’s purse, took it from her and helped her climb into her seat.

“She apologized,” she replied curtly, twisted her lips and her eyes clouded with tears. I held her hand for a moment and gave it a squeeze in support then let it go.

“Which we both knew she would. That’s all you wanted, right?” I suggested, sounding matter of fact, while I buckled her in and handed her a headset.

“Yes… and it appeared genuine, but I’m not interested in a friendship with her again. I told her as much,” she admitted quietly.

Closing her door, I jogged to the other side and took my seat beside her. We stayed silent while I did. “So what happened?”

“There was little to say, really. I said my piece, she looked suitably remorseful, and I’m glad to say there was no begging or desperation in her apology. I guess we both knew too much time had passed and we’d never get that closeness we’d had back. So, she said sorry, I said I forgave her… I’m still not sure if that was more for Holly’s sake than anything else.”

Lily might have sounded clipped, but I heard the hurt she carried at the prospect of letting go of someone she once held dear.

“Well, I think you’re cool to have put your differences with Saffy aside for Holly.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she appreciates it,” she remarked with a tight smile.

“Anyway, changing the subject, I’ve been a naughty boy while you’ve been away,” I confessed, grinning to lighten her mood.