Page 11 of Reaper

I’m about to protest when she puts a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it slightly.

“Honey, I may not have had to deal with exactly what you’re going through but let me save you that one injustice. Okay?”

My throat tightens as I remember the mess they’d left for me to find in the bathroom, and my stomach rolls so violently that I’m afraid my breakfast will come right back up. Taking a deep breath, I nod.

“Okay.”

My voice is barely above a whisper, but thankfully, she hears me. Giving my shoulder one last squeeze, she heads upstairs. After a moment; I follow behind her.

Time to purge this part of my life, I silently tell myself.

Walking up the stairs, I steel myself for what I’m about to see, but when I step into my room, I’m surprised at the lack of ... well, not feeling much of anything besides betrayal and anger.

Glancing around my room, I take in the rumpled bedding, a stack of Aiden’s books on his nightstand, the dresser drawers he used, the pictures of us on the dresser and the walls, and turning some more, my gaze settles on his section of the closet since the closet doors were left open.

“Why?”

“Why what?” Khloe asks and it’s then that I realized I’d spoken aloud.

“Not even half an hour ago, I was kicking myself for not seeing through their ruse sooner. I mean, I still feel betrayed and am pissed at both of them, but why is it that that’s the only emotions I’m feeling right now? Shouldn’t I be feeling... something more? I thought I loved him. We were going to get married this fall...”

Miracle walks over to me as my voice trails off and slings an arm over my shoulder. “Maybe somewhere deep inside, you knew Aiden wasn’t the one for you. Maybe that’s why you aren’t ranting and raving or throwing and breaking things.”

I huff, but then I chuckle at the image. I’ve never been one to do that, even when I was beyond pissed off at something orsomeone. Burn their shit or use it as target practice is more my style. Ma totally called that one.

And that’s definitely what I’ll be doing today.

“Maybe you’re right.”

She scoffs. “Of course, I am. You should know that by now after all these years,” she teases and winks at me before she squeezes my shoulder and walks over to the bed and helps Khloe strip off my bedding.

Chapter 5

Lark

Iturnawayfrommy bed and my gaze snags on a picture frame sitting on the corner of my dresser. It’s one Ma had taken when Aiden and I had rejoined my grandparents’ sixtieth wedding anniversary party last month. We’d just shared the news that we were engaged, and in the picture, I looked so happy.

But looking at it now, I can see the truth.

While Aiden is smiling in the picture, that smile doesn’t reach his eyes. Also, his posture isn’t relaxed. We were leaning in toward each other with our hands clasped and my other hand extended, showing the camera my ring. However, nothing in his body language says he’s where he wants to be. Or who he wants to be with.

I thought I’d been in love with him, but was I? If I was really in love with him, wouldn’t I be feeling more devastated than I already am?

Shaking my head, I push those thoughts away for now.

A glint catches my eye and I realize I’m still wearing Aiden’s ring. A ring that probably meant nothing other than the price tag attached to it since apparently Aiden’s great-grandmother’s family heirloom ring was given to Kelly instead of me.

Dropping the box of garbage bags on the dresser, I rip the ring off my finger and stalk over to my closet. Pushing aside some clothes in the back, I dig around until I find my small keepsake box on one of the back shelves and, with one last look at the ring, I put it in the box. I won’t get rid of it. Instead, I’ll keep it as a reminder to myself to be more cautious and careful in the future.

Putting the box back into place, I turn and my gaze snags on the clothes Aiden had left here in the closet. Shirts, jeans, a handful of dress slacks, jackets, shirts, and a few suits. And beneath them, there are a few pairs of dress shoes and sneakers.

Fury ignites in me, and I yank each item off its hanger before tossing it out onto my bedroom floor. A few of the hangers break from the force I use, but I don’t pay them any attention.

This will be the first area I purge.

Jacket after jacket.

Shirt after shirt.