The Girl in the Love Song (Lost Boys #1)(90)

“We’ll make it up to you,” he said. “Somehow.”

He left, and I was alone in the kitchen. The house went silent again, a quiet that felt permanent. Empty. It swallowed the echoes of happier times until there was nothing left.





The next day, Shiloh came over to help me get ready for the Prom. She brought me a white gift box wrapped in gold ribbon. Inside was a ring she had made herself. A beautifully intricate mix of bronze, gold, and silver strands twining together.

“Happy Birthday, Vi.”

“It’s beautiful,” I said, slipping it over the middle finger of my right hand. “Stunning, Shi. You’re so damn talented. I can’t wait to see you have your own store front downtown someday.”

“You and me both. There’s also an inscription.”

I took it off. Inside, she’d engraved Vi and Shi where the metals were welded together. Tears threatened as I hugged my friend tight.

“I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Me too.”

She quickly released me to move behind and help me button my dress—royal blue with a crystal-embroidered bodice and a long, sweeping chiffon skirt. In the mirror, I watched her braids fall over her slender shoulders as she worked, her eyes shining.

“I hate that you’re leaving,” she said. “We were supposed to have four more years together before you abandoned me for med school.”

“I know. It makes me sick to think about it.”

“What about everything else? How are you taking the divorce?”

“It’s for the best. At one time in my life, it would have been the worst thing to happen. Now, it’s one more torrent in a giant shitstorm.”

“That left you in the cold. I’m worried about you striking off for Texas on your own.”

“I have a little saved up.”

“Will it be enough?”

“It’ll have to be. I can’t ask them for anything. They don’t have anything.”

The reality of it struck me hard, how fast things had changed. I stood in my room that had been mine since I could remember, and it was already feeling like I didn’t belong here anymore.

Shiloh bit her lip and finished the last button. “Have you thought about maybe asking Holden for a loan?” She held up her hands at my appalled look. “I know, I know. I’d hate it too. But he’s got more money than God and doesn’t seem to give a shit about any of it. He’d give you some start-up cash, easy.”

“I don’t know him well enough to ask him, and it’s too humiliating anyway.” I shook my head, examining myself in the mirror. “No, I have to make it on my own. Maybe this is the universe’s way of toughening me up before I become a doctor.”

“When are you leaving?”

“I think I have to be ready to go when the house is sold.”

“Damn, Vi…”

“It’s better that way,” I said in a small voice. “Then I can get a job and get settled in before school starts in the fall.”

In Texas. So far away from her. And Miller. I have to leave Miller.

I hadn’t let myself have the thought, but now it was there, bashing around inside my heart. I sank down on the bed, my hand covering my mouth.

“Oh, honey…” Shiloh sat beside me and put her arm around me. “Don’t cry, you’ll ruin your makeup. You haven’t told Miller, have you?”

“Not yet. I can barely face it myself. What am I going to do, Shi?”

“I don’t know, hon. But are you sure you’re up to this Prom with River? Can’t you call in sick and come over to my place? Bibi will bake you something good to celebrate your birthday, and we can eat and binge-watch Ozark.”

Nothing sounded better, but I shook my head. “I promised River.”

Shiloh frowned. “What gives with you two? Is he blackmailing you?”

“No,” I laughed. I stood up quickly and smoothed down the front of my dress. Shiloh had piled half my hair on my head, pinning it in a messy bun and letting the rest flow over my shoulders.

“You look beautiful,” she said, standing with me. “Miserable but beautiful.”

“I’m going with the wrong boy.”

“Have you heard from your boy?”

“No. His meeting is today. All day.”

“On a Saturday?”

“They worried he would be missing school. He’ll be back tomorrow.” I turned to her. “And what about you? I wish you were going.”

“Not my scene,” she said.

“And what is your scene? Ronan Wentz?”

Shiloh looked away. “It’s complicated. I know that’s a cheesy Facebook cliché, but it’s exactly that.”

I smiled softly. “You care about him?”

“No,” she said, fuming. She flopped back on my bed on her back. “Half the time, he drives me fucking crazy, and I want to strangle him. The other times…”

I lay down beside her. “Other times you want to kiss him?”

She scoffed. “You’re going to mess up your hair.” I made a face at her, and she laughed, then took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Happy birthday, Violet. I know everything is all fucked up right now, but if you’re hellbent on going to this Prom, maybe try to have some fun tonight. Forget everything for a little bit.”