Page 65 of Carter

He tucked the covers around my shoulders. He smoothed my hair back from my forehead. He kissed me.

He told me he loves me more than anything in this world.

And I feel the same way about him.

And now, I finally know what real love looks like.

You sacrifice your wants. Your needs. For the other one.

You want them so much that you are willing to do anything for that one person.

And now I finally understand another dangerous version of control: deciding what is best for someone I love without giving him a voice.

And I will do that for him.

I will finally show Carter the love he has shown me for years.

I will do what is best for him.

I will let him go—not because I want to run, but because I have convinced myself that loving him means removing the burden of me from his life.

I stare out the window at the clouds. Tears stream down my cheeks. I don’t bother to wipe them away. I think the stewardess is asking me if I’m alright. I’m so frozen in my grief, I can’t be sure. I can’t reply. I can’t tear my gaze away from the sky.

The miles between us grow further every moment.

Things are finally as they should be.

18

Carter

Sasha’s clever. But she doesn’t understand that I know her better than she knows herself.

She never has.

I know right where she’s going.

And she has no idea, but she’s heading right toward my trap.

Well, it wasn’t meant to be a trap. It was to be a glorious surprise.

But now, it will have to be a trap.

I just have a few calls to make, then I’ll be on a plane.

19

Sasha

My parents worry for me. At first, they were both so excited to see me, chatting away in Greek. Kissing my cheeks, stroking my hair.

Then they got a good look at my face.

They sit in the living room beside me, wringing their hands. Staring at me. Worried expressions etched on their faces.

They don’t know what to do with me.

I don’t know what to do with myself.