Laura The water in the lake was cold, even though it was spring. Kendall's body and furniture were still entwined with me, grabbing me and pulling me to the bottom of the lake. I tried to free myself from her dead body, pushing her away from me, and tried to swim to the surface, but with my hands t
Laura I was wearing a fluffy robe after a hot shower I took, so I was safely home with my family and the people I loved. Ava was there with me, taking care of me and cheering me up through the stressful events I had just a short time ago. “And how did the guests react when you had to announce tha
Laura “Oh my God, you look so beautiful!” Ava exclaimed, delighted, looking at me with her eyes shining with emotion. “Do you think I really look pretty?” I asked with a small smile as I looked in the mirror and straightened my dress. I was already dressed and ready for the wedding; unlike the
Weeks later Laura It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon; the kids were playing in the pool; Jason and his guys were talking and drinking a beer while preparing the barbecue; my mom and Roseanne sunbathed by the pool while having fun watching the children play; Ava and I were exchanging experiences i
Laura “Oh my God, girls, are you toasting without me? I want to be part of it too,” said Melanie, Albert’s wife, approaching the kitchen. She was also there with us, only she had left for a moment. “We can toast with you again, honey,” I replied to her as Ava poured wine into another empty glass
Laura “Is there any problem, honey?” Jason asked when he and I were a considerable distance away from the others. “Or did you just miss your stud, huh?” He insinuated, holding my waist and pulling me close with a malicious air. I chuckled, rolling my eyes. “Not that that wouldn't be a good idea,”
Laura “Everything is wonderful, my little wifey,” he said, and then kissed me on the mouth. I linked my arms behind his neck and returned the kiss eagerly, but we ended up being interrupted. "Mom! Dad!" It was Annie coming running towards us. “Gideon is here! Why the hell is he here?” "What?" I
Laura “The food is really good, Laura. You really have excellent cooking skills,” Gideon praised as we all sat at the table eating lunch. Ava cleared her throat and drank her wine right away, clearly finding Gideon's compliment unnecessary. Not that praising someone was wrong, but I could tell that
I blinked, trying to process what he was saying. "But what if... what if I mess it all up again? I’m not perfect, Matt. I have my flaws, my scars." He smiled, a smile both gentle and confident. "No one’s perfect, Lindsay. I’m not either. But you know what? My dad, Killian... he’s not my biological
Lindsay POV We arrived at the hotel after a night that still echoed in me like a good dream. Wyatt was exhausted, which wasn’t surprising after such an eventful day at the Weiss house. He fell asleep almost immediately after I put him to bed, a slight smile on his face that made me feel that, despi
Lindsay POV The dinner was a marvel, an experience that felt like a warm hug in the form of food and company. Emma Weiss insisted that I try every dish she had prepared with such care, and I couldn’t deny how much it made me feel welcomed. "My lasagna recipe is famous," she said with a proud smile,
Lindsay POV The weekend in Atlanta had a taste of novelty and nervousness. Matt had invited me to dinner at his mother's house, Emma Weiss, and the idea of meeting his family left me in a state of anxiety mixed with anticipation. I had never met the parents of someone I was dating since, well, sinc
Laura POV Jason and Terence were terrible singers, but that didn't stop them from diving into karaoke, hitting every note off-key while making their wives laugh with their comedic performance. Ava and I, now alone in a VIP area of the bar, continued the celebration of our daughters' entry into col
Laura POV"This strawberry drink is delicious," I commented, sipping my drink through a straw."Oh, nice. My pineapple one is really irresistible," Ava also commented, smiling, though the smile was somewhat reserved and awkward, just like mine.We were at a luxurious bar, a place that contrasted wit
As we walked, I thought about what Abby had said. It wasn't Caleb who mattered; it was the betrayal of a friendship I thought would last forever. The pain of losing that trust was still fresh, and perhaps that was why I didn't want to think about Caleb at all. But at the same time, there was a part
Annie POV I watched my parents' car drive away with a sense of sadness; part of me wanted to go with them and give up on everything, but I was also excited to start a new life at Oxwell. The sound of the engine fading into the distance seemed to carry away a piece of my childhood, leaving me with a
Jason POV We were in the Oxwell campus parking lot, giving our final hugs before heading back home. Annie was practically engulfed in our embrace, hugging us tightly and saying she would miss us, even though she knew she could come home every weekend. Her hug was a mix of farewell and beginning, so