Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 69511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
He shrugged. “Eventually. Time passes weird here. It feels like I just left Athena yesterday, but when I look back, years have passed.”
I didn’t like that.
“She is by herself,” I commented. “I don’t want her to be by herself.”
His eyes gleamed. “Then don’t let her.”
I wouldn’t.
I wouldn’t let her be alone.
Only, that white light… it felt freeing.
It felt like there would be no problems there.
It felt like…
Athena’s laugh. I loved that laugh.
The first time she’d laughed across a table from me, I’d felt like she’d yanked and snatched my heart right out of my chest. I’d remember that laugh forever. She was so beautiful. Her eyes had sparkled, and her mouth was wide open, and her jaw line was sharp.
“Time to go,” Gavrel said.
I opened my eyes and the white light was closer.
A white so pure that it beckoned me in.
There was no pain there. No gangs or drunk people. No kids starving, or women being beaten by abusive husbands. Only peace.
I wanted peace.
But…
Athena’s hands were so small. Yet when they were in my own, they felt like they were exactly where they were meant to be. Like my big hands were made to shield her small ones. So soft and smooth compared to my callouses.
“Choose,” Gavrel pushed.
My eyes were staring at the white light now, my irises so huge that it almost hurt to look into the light.
“Gable?”
My heart.
My heart burst inside of my chest.
“Addison,” I breathed.
“Hey, little brother.” Addison smiled so huge. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
My heart broke inside my chest. “What are you doing here? Why are you here?”
She gestured behind her. “Finally at peace.”
At peace.
That’s what I wanted for her.
I didn’t want her to suffer.
“I’ve missed you,” she murmured. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”
Tears.
I was crying.
“Can I hug you?” I asked.
“Sure,” she smiled. “You just have to come to this side. I can’t come to that one. I’ve already made my choice.”
I looked over at Gavrel. “What choice have you made?”
He looked behind me, as if his heart was in a different location. “I’m waiting.”
“For what?” I asked.
“For her to be fully happy. Settled. Once that happens, then I’ll go.” He looked at the white light. “I’m not ready to go until she has… someone.”
I was instantly offended. “She has someone.”
My defensiveness shocked me and him.
But he rallied and said, “But does she?”
I took two steps back.
“Gable, where are you going?” Addie asked.
I looked at my sister, feeling like my heart was breaking. “I have to go back.”
She smiled. “You can do that.”
“I don’t want to leave you behind,” I whispered.
She patted her chest. “You won’t leave me behind. You may not be able to see me, but I watch. I know all about you. I know about Quincy, Quaid, and Quinn. I know about Auden and Atlas. You and Garrett. Mom and Dad. The new nieces and nephews. I’m not alone. I’m right here.”
She patted her chest, and I couldn’t stop myself from patting my own.
“Choose,” she whispered.
It broke my heart.
But I chose. “I love you, Addie. I love you so much.”
“Say hi to Mom and Dad for me,” she smiled.
Then I was gone.
The pain was back.
And Athena wasn’t alone.
Imagine if spiders laughed like psychos when you found them.
—Text from Athena to Gable
ATHENA
I felt numb.
There was no other word for what I felt.
It felt like the life had been drained out of my soul, and I was sitting here, a broken shell of the woman I once was.
I didn’t know what to do.
What to say.
Was there anything even to say?
The Carters had tried to talk to me.
Hell, even Maven had tried.
But I didn’t have anything left in me to give, not even conversation.
I’d been sitting in the exact spot since I’d gotten into the waiting area, and my mind just blanked.
I didn’t know how much time had passed.
I didn’t know if it’d been overly long.
My bladder was full.
It’d obviously been a while.
But…
“Carter family?”
I was standing, my numb legs protesting the movement with each inch I stood.
“Felix,” Garnett jolted out of her seat. “Is he okay?”
“He’s okay.” He looked sheepish. “Barring infection,” he looked hopeful now. “A surgeon joined me shortly after I started. We were able to remove the bullets, repair the damage. Everything is good now. He’s stable. He’ll be in a lot of pain, but he’s awake.”
“He’s awake?” I breathed.
“And asking for you.” The doctor looked at me, then turned back toward Gable’s parents. “He also wanted me to say something.”
“What?” Garrett asked.
“He said ‘Addie says hi.’”
There was a sharp intake of breath and then Ande and Garnett burst into tears.
“Addie,” I breathed.
Addison.
His sister.
Holy shit.
Did that mean he died?
“Come on,” he gestured at me. “I’ll take you back.”
“I want to come!” Ande breathed.
Ande.
Addison’s twin.
“Two at a time,” he looked at the rest of the family. “You can file in one at a time, but Gable wants her to stay.”