Page 124 of Forgotten Sacrifice

“No.”

“Good. Is there an object in the room?”

“Yes.”

“I want you to go into another room so we can talk about it.”

I walk to the living room, taking a seat on my new couch. “Okay.”

“Good. Is Vince with you?”

“No. I’m at my new apartment. Vince is out of my life.” I choke up on the last part.

“What?” Nicky asks on a gasp.

“He betrayed me,” I whisper. “I thought he cared about me, but he was using me.”

“Do you want me to let Mercutio loose on him?” The dog barks in the background.

I choke on a laugh. Or maybe it’s a sob.

“Hey, Luna. Everything’s going to be alright,” she says gently once I’ve gotten myself under control.

“How do you know that?” I dab my eyes.

“Is the urge gone?”

I let out a breath. “Yeah.”

“I know because you rode the wave and didn’t cutyourself. Mercutio’s standing at the ready if you change your mind.”

“Thanks, Nicky.”

“Any time.”

I return to the kitchen and clean up mytantrum. Searching for something else to eat, I find a box of frozen waffles.

Heating one up in the microwave, I plate it and grab the maple syrup, butter, and blueberries. I try to make an angry emoji face, but it turns out looking more like a sad emoji.

Vince

After a stop at the bank and the realtor’s office, I arrive at the boss’s house. Nicky’s there to greet me at the front door with her hands on her hips, guard dog by her side.

“I should let Mercutio rip you to shreds,” she says, and the dog growls.

“You should,” I agree.

“Why did you break her heart?” Nicky demands.

“Because I’m no good.”

“Jesus Christ, the two of you,” she mutters, letting me inside. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.”

I smile sadly. “I need to meet with the boss.”

“You could make this right,” she calls after me.

I’ve already made it right by letting Luna go.