Page 67 of Forsaken
A picture of where they belonged started toemerge in her head as she talked with Mollie. Entering the lasthall, she was halfway down it when she discovered one ofherphotographs leaning against the wall. She’d given it to Nicolettesix months ago in the hopes she would show it, but she hadn’t knownNicolette planned to use it for this showing.
She felt like a kid on Christmas as she stoodthere and grinned stupidly at the black and white photo of an olderman leaning close to blow a dandelion into his grandson’s face.White tufts floated on the air between them, and the joy on theirfaces made her heart soar every time she saw the photo.
“Julian’s in town,” Aida said.
“No shit.” Mollie snorted. “What’s he doingthere?”
“He came to visit Cassidy and Kyle.”
“I’m sure he was happy to see you too. Thatboy had thebiggestcrush on you.”
Aida turned away from her photo and continueddown the hall. “I didn’t think he did.”
“That’s because you were so lost you couldn’tsee it. I saw it, though.”
“He’s not a boy anymore.”
“That tends to happen as people get older.Were you happy to see him?”
“Not at first,” Aida admitted. “I was prettypissed off at him for taking off andnevercontactingme.”
“So you think he’s like Dad.”
She loved her sister to death, and they neverkept secrets from each other, but sometimes she wished Molliedidn’t know her so well. “Yes. I mean, no!” Aida blurted. “Okay,maybe I used to think he was a little like Dad.”
“And now?”
“Now, I understand why he left.”
“And why was that?”
“To let me have the normal life Iwanted.”
“And now that he’s back, what does hewant?”
“Me. He thinks I’m his mate.”
Mollie sucked in a breath. “Hethinks,or he knows?”
“He knows.”
“And what do you think?”
“I think I’ve been in love with him for fouryears, and because he left me, I wouldn’t let myself acknowledge ituntil now.”
“If you’re his mate, he’s not going to leaveagain. I can’t believe he left before.”
“He explained that,” Aida said.
“And are you okay with his explanation?”
“Yes.”
“You suffered a lot more than me on theisland—”
“Mollie,” she groaned.
“But you also know not all vampires arebad.”
