Page 41 of Shadow & Stars (Demon Heart #3)

41

DARCY

I sat with Jaz after he finished the surgery, praying for the health of my bestie and his lover.

“Everything will be okay,” Jaz said. He sipped on a paper cup of water fresh from the cooler in reception.

I struggled to hold it together, my emotions a hot pot of anguish, hope, and outright terror.

“I promise, Darcy. That was one of the smoothest operations I’ve ever performed.”

“Really?”

“Yep. And that’s one strong heart I put in your friend.”

I used to love it when he reassured me. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“Glad I did something right.”

Things could have been so different if he’d… It was too late now. We were never going back. I didn’t want him, but I did mourn those happy times. They would always be stored in a special corner of my heart.

“I’m sorry you ended up like this,” I said. “I’ll always care about you. More than you can imagine. But?—”

“Don’t say it,” he interrupted. “I can’t handle it.” He picked up one of the reception phones.

His sadness bumped against mine. “What are you doing?”

“Giving your friend the best care.”

After his call, he disappeared from my life forever.