“Whatever you need.”

With that, I stood with the yearbook under my arm and shook his hand. “Thank you.”

After I went home and showered and changed clothes, I saw I had a missed call. My buddy from the VA had apparently come through for me. After I listened to his message, I packed a bag and headed to Reagan International.

CHAPTER 17

~ Lucy ~

I couldn’t determine which hurt more, my head or my heart. If I had to guess, I’d say my heart, but my head had been pounding for days.

It had been a little more than two weeks since I last spoke with Drake. Two weeks since I told him I loved him, albeit in a letter, but the words were still there.

Mason had tried to help me cope with everything from having to dredge up my past to possibly getting over Drake if I wanted. Of course I didn’t want to get over Drake; that much I knew. Having him in my life, even for such a short time, made me feel complete. Now I had a void that I didn’t want to be filled. Not unless Drake was the one to fill it.

“Luce, why don’t you reach out to him?” Mason called out from my living room.

Today was the last day of school. Hallelujah! After the last bell rang, he and I headed for my place so I could change clothes. The end of the school year was definitely time to go out and celebrate, no matter how horrible I felt about the rest of my life.

“Because I told him I’d give him time,” I shouted back from my bedroom as I buttoned my jeans and leaned toward the mirror to fluff my hair. “It’s been so hard; you know that. But what am I supposed to do? He must still need space, because he hasn’t reached out to me either.”

“He was out of town.” Mason’s voice was soft, but I heard him loud and clear.

“What? Where? How do you know?” I ran into the living room as panic set in.

Drake left town? What about the primary?

“Gretchen told me.” Mason raised his hands, palms up. “Before you yell at me, I ran into her at a bar near the Metro the other night. She was waiting for her boyfriend—who never showed up, by the way—so we had a couple drinks together. That’s when she told me Drake had to go away for a bit.”

“Does she know?” The thought of Drake’s entire family knowing my story saddened me. They were such wonderful people.

“I don’t think so,” he said as he shook his head, and then he turned pleading eyes on me. “I’ve been thinking about all of this, Lucy. Is it really that big of a deal?”

Frustrated, I threw my hands up in the air. “You don’t think it’s a big deal that my past could destroy the future of the man I love?”

“No, I’m sorry but I don’t.” Mason ran a hand through his hair. “This has nothing to do with him and everything to do with you.” When I glared at him, he said, “Don’t look at me that way. I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was, well, Gretchen told me Drake will do anything to protect you.”

“I’d do the same,” I said sadly. “That’s why I think I need to end this so he can go on and do great things.” Just saying that tore my insides to shreds, but I knew it was true.

“What happened to you was unfair and borderline criminal, in my mind. When I think about how alone you must have felt all those years ago, it infuriates me. The thing is, it was years ago. You were a kid, and no one can hold you accountable for that.” His face tightened as he added, “Your parents are a different story.”

“I just feel so guilty,” I said, blinking back tears. “Do you realize how many lives I’ve affected? My boyfriend didn’t even have a say in the matter, but he probably would have chosen prison. Now he’s gone, and his family doesn’t even have a grandchild to remind them of him, because of the choice I made. In hindsight, I should have run away, but I was so terrified at the time, I just stayed.”

Then it dawned on me—I did run away. I just ran too late.

Sighing, I said, “Maybe the best thing to do is to let him go forever.”

“You’re wrong, Luce. But whatever you decide to do, you’ll always have me.”

“Thank you, but you need to live your own life.”

Mason was a great guy; he deserved all the good things life had to offer. Babysitting me for the rest of his life wasn’t what I wanted for him.

“Well,” he said warily, “I do have something to tell you. I wasn’t going to, but I need your advice.”

“Thank God, because I’m tired of talking about myself.” I wiped my tears away and straightened my spine. I needed to be there for him just as he’d always been there for me.

Mason smiled. “I’ve been offered an assistant coaching position at a Division One college.”

I squealed and clapped my hands. “Oh my God, Mason! Congratulations!”

His face lit up. “If I take it, I’ll be leaving in July, so we’ll have to postpone our camping trip because I’ll be moving.”

My elation was short-lived. “You’re moving?”

“It’s UCLA, Luce. I’ll be moving to California.”

Sadness swamped me, but I forced it back. There was no way in hell I’d make him feel bad about this. How could I when deep down, I was so happy for him.

“I’ll miss you.”

His head bobbed slowly in acknowledgment. “I’ll miss you too. But we can Skype, and I want you to come out to visit me once I get settled.”

“I will. I promise.” A thought struck me, and I smirked. “I can’t believe you’re leaving me with those bitchy women at school.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, sorry about that. Can’t say I’ll miss them. But I have a feeling you’ll be just fine. Follow your heart, and it will lead you exactly where you need to be.”

• • •

Once I’d pulled myself together and touched up my makeup, Mason and I headed over to Juno’s, which we considered our place. The happy-hour crowd was there, and cocktails were flowing. I hadn’t been sleeping well since Memorial Day and had been so stressed out, I needed this to try to take my mind off my situation with Drake.

Mason and I had just sat down in a booth when I heard my name. Startled, I glanced around to see Gretchen and Jack walk over to join us.

Gretchen looked beautiful in a cute summer white dress and wedge sandals. Jack was in a suit and tie. He was ruggedly handsome, and a number of female patrons who stared at him didn’t go unnoticed.

“Lucy!” Gretchen pulled me into a hug. “It’s so good to see you.” She looked at Mason and smiled.

A man wearing chinos and a golf shirt buttoned up to his collar walked up to us. He looked very uptight, and Jack tensed as he joined our group. When the man linked his hand with Gretchen’s, I assumed he must be the elusive boyfriend.

Gretchen made the introductions. “Lucy and Mason, this is Scott. Can we join you?”

We nodded, and Mason and I murmured polite greetings as we shook hands with Scott, although Mason’s seemed even less welcoming than mine.

We scooted into our booth to make room. Jack sat next to me and placed his arm on the back of the booth behind my shoulders. His cologne wafted by me, but it wasn’t Drake’s, and that made me miss him more. They looked a lot alike, but there was only one Prescott who made my pulse beat faster.

Gretchen sat between Mason and Scott, and she seemed a little subdued, almost sad.

“How have you been?” Her voice was sweet, filled with genuine concern for me.

“I’m really sorry I left North Carolina without saying good-bye to you or your family. I just couldn’t stay any longer. I hope you understand.” I glanced at them both, and Gretchen nodded her understanding.

Jack, on the other hand, frowned at me. “My brother is a mess.”

I didn’t expect him to say that, and by the gasp his sister let out, she was just as surprised.

“I don’t want to make you feel worse about things,” he added, “but I’ve never seen Drake so lost and confused. He’s a take-charge guy and doesn’t let his emotions cloud his judgment, but right now my big brother has a storm raging in his head.”