EPILOGUE
CALEB
I button my pants while Casey rights her clothes. Her cheeks are flushed, nearly the same shade of red as her hair. She bends down and picks up a bottle of ketchup that we somehow managed to knock off the shelf and places it back in its rightful spot.
“I better get back out there,” she says. “Jack will be wondering where I am.”
“Let’s not pretend that he doesn’t know.”
She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and my grandma’s emerald ring glints under the light.
I knew it was the perfect ring for her. My grandma passed away before I was even born, and the ring has been kept at my house since then.
It never crossed my mind to give her any other ring.
Besides, I’m certain she would’ve given me a piece of her mind had I gone and purchased her a diamond that held no sentimental value.
“I’ll go see if your order is ready,” she smiles. “I’m sure Marlene has kept it warm for you.”
She steps out, and I follow behind her, not giving a damn that everyone in here will know what we’ve been up to. Before she reaches the bar, she stops and looks over her shoulder at me.
“Avery’s here,” she whispers.
It wasn’t that long ago that I drove my sister to the airport. She couldn’t get out of Hollis fast enough, ready to get back to L.A. and to her boyfriend. Now, she sits at the bar, drink in hand. She looks like shit.
“What’s the date?” I ask. “Today’s date?”
She tells me, and my heart sinks. I know why she’s here.
I’ve seen the flyers all over town. It’s been ten years.
Today is the ten-year anniversary for the reason she left town in the first place.
Hollis is having a special anniversary service, presenting the town with a statue made in honor of that day. She’s here for that. I’m sure of it.
Avery finishes off her drink and checks her phone.
Why didn’t she tell me she was coming? I start toward her, but she gets up from the bar and goes outside.
Damn, this must be hitting her really hard.
I can’t imagine what she’s going through.
Although ten years have passed, this town is a constant reminder of that tragic night. Of the innocent lives lost.
“I’m going to go check on her,” I say. “I’ll be back in to eat, okay? Love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
I head toward the door, but the scene taking place outside the window stops me dead in my tracks. I cannot fucking believe what I’m seeing. My jaw clenches when he uses his thumb to wipe away her tears. My blood boils when he closes his arms around her.
I shouldn’t be angry, I know this, but I am. Neither of them said a word to me. Both of them left me in the dark about what they were doing. And what exactly are they doing? Shit.
My sister is kissing Landon fucking Steele.