Page 39

Ronnie

Melanie

You must think I’m a cold-hearted bitch who tries to hurt her daughter.

I stare at my phone, knowing she wants to talk to Amber and doesn’t know how. I don’t need to see her regret or hear it because it screams at me through each word she typed in the last few days she’s been texting me.

Her daughter is an enchanting goddess to me but for her, she is still the most precious thing—her creation, and she misses her just as much as Amber misses her mom.

Ronnie

I don’t think anything, Melanie.

I wish you embraced her closer when you had the chance. She gave you a million of them and you missed every single one.

When will you stop hurting yourself and her? Because I won’t let you.

I will take care of her and keep her safe and she will find her way when it’s time.

Melanie

Do you think she’ll come to visit again soon?

Ronnie

I’m pretty sure she would.

She loves her dad and sister very much.

And Bradley would want to see his family. We will visit as much as they want.

Melanie

Okay.

I will wait till then.

I’m sorry for my behavior.

Ronnie

I’m not the one you need to apologize to.

Amber deserves it and you already know that.

I put the phone down as Luka steps inside the door.

“You said you needed to talk to me. It sounded urgent.” I stare at him, leaning against the wooden desk in our office. He beams and I can tell it’s something important like…

“Will you be my best man?” He finally says, letting that grin stretch wider.

“Wait what? Did you propose to Dylan?” I tug him for a hug. “Congrats, man. I’m so happy for you. Of course, I will be your best man, who else would be?” I let that one joke slide in.

“Shut up,” he claps on my back, “She said a million times yes and I think I shed a few tears.”

“You deserve each other.” I hug him tighter. They truly do.

“I feel the same. Are you ready to travel to Australia?” he steps back to look into my eyes—it’s slightly loaded given what happened the last time we were there—when I had to be the one to tell him his parents were killed in a ski accident. “I know it’s been almost nine years since but it feels like yesterday.” We were twenty, give or take, and it hit us like a tsunami. Our parents were best friends. Our families were always together and losing them was like losing my parents .

It hurts to relive it. That pang in my chest always comes right after.

“It’ll be okay,” I reassure him with a candid smile. “You’re The Devil after all. We’ve been through hell and we still made it out.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you, Ronnie.”

I glance at the grim reaper tattoo on his neck before my eyes flick up again. “I couldn’t have survived it without you, Luka.”

“Through thick and thin,” he starts, waiting for me to continue.

“Through blood and tears.”

“Through oceans and crazy grandmas.”

“You’re my…”

I nod.

“Ride or die.”

We finish that line together.

He loops his arms around me again and I can feel his body sagging and relaxing into my hold. It’s my turn to be his crutch.

“Can I bring plus two?”

His big joker grin captures his entire face. “Damn right, you can. They have made you beam ever since they walked into your life. You don’t always need a plan, just choose a direction and see where it leads you.” He quotes his mom.

“Your parents would’ve been so proud of you.”

“I know. They would’ve been so proud of you too.”

A tear glides down my cheek and I wipe it quickly as we embrace each other one last time before he returns to work. Like Nana always says, some people are meant to stay beside us to cross those whirlwinds life throws sometimes.