I hope she’s not going to stay away too long.
They say absences makes the heart grow fonder, but that saying comes with another part. Too much absence, love no longer. A big part of me worries that when Sandy steps out of our home and back into the real world that she’ll realize that these past few days have been a blip in her otherwise perfectly ordinary life. A blip that she won’t even consider returning to.
When I pull into our driveway, the front door is open. Sandy is standing at the window, and when she sees her car, she steps into the doorway, turning to look back into the house.
I throw the car into park and jump out, desperate to know what’s going on.
Then I see Tyler holding Sandy’s suitcase, and it’s confirmed. She’s leaving.
The rest of the boys gather behind. We should all be at Deep Repairs right now, but it’s obvious that none of us gives a shit. I left a note on the door saying that we’ll be opening late. Anyone who needs us can call the number on our sign.
“I’ll be back soon,” Sandy says breezily, her eyes wide as though she doesn’t quite believe what she’s saying. I pop the trunk, and Tyler rests Sandy’s bag in the back, closing it with a thud that feels like punctuation at the end of a sentence.
A sentence at the end of a book.
Tyler is the first to pull Sandy into a hug. There’s a tenderness to the way he enfolds her in his strong arms and a familiarity to his touch that speaks of their past relationship. When he draws back, he gazes down at her. Sandy meets his gaze with wide hazel eyes filled with uncertainty. “Drive carefully, okay. And call me when you get there.” She nods, and her eyes flutter shut when he bends to press a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth.
Even from a distance, I can see the sigh that leaves her lips when he pulls away.
Next, my brothers step forward, each hugging Sandy and kissing her goodbye. She touches Arden’s beard and plays with the hair at the back of Able’s neck in a way that feels as real to me as if she was caressing my own skin.
Damien is next. He bends to hug Sandy and lifts her off her feet, causing her to squeal. It’s good that he’s found a way to bring some lightness into this situation. When he puts her down, she swats his pec, and Damien grins broadly.
Greg is standing to the side, his big arms folded across his broad chest. He’s watching everything like a bodyguard assessing the danger of a situation. There’s a defensiveness to him too. He’s a hard man, but he has a soft side. He’s as needy of a woman’s touch as we all are, and I’ve never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at Sandy. When Damien has stepped aside, Sandy looks around, knowing there are two of us left.
I make my way forward next, my heart beating hard against my ribs. I slide my hand into my jeans pocket and pull out the tiny building I took from my shelf. It’s a model of The Shard from London, the building we spoke about. I didn’t know what else to give her to remind her of her time with me. It’s stupid, but maybe it’ll be enough.
“Keep safe,” I say, sliding the model into her hand as I hug her. When we draw apart, she looks down, and her face breaks into a smile. “I know it’s not as good as the real thing, but one day…” I kiss her sweet rosy lips, and she rests her hand on my chest, most probably feeling the frantic beating of my heart.
Greg is the last, and Sandy has to seek him out. She looks like a child standing before a stern father. She touches his forearm, and his lids drop closed, then he takes her into his arms, crushing her against his chest. “I know,” he says. “Don’t pretend with me.”
She buries her face in the fabric of his shirt, and when she pulls back, I can see the damp patches that her tears have left behind.
Sandy hurries to her car, tossing her purse onto the passenger seat. She reaches for a pair of sunglasses, which she shoves onto her face to cover the tears in her eyes.
Tyler steps forward and pats the roof of the car. He seems happy, so I guess he really believes she’ll be back soon.
Or maybe he’s just kidding himself exactly like I’m trying to do.
31
SANDY
Packing up my apartment is so difficult. This place is where I set myself up after Tyler. This place was my hope for a better future, and now I have to put all of that behind me.