Slamming the car door after I’m settled in my seat, I crank the ignition. My mother’s voice flows from the car’s Bluetooth system.

“And you’re sure that you’re doing okay?”

I can just see her, standing in her kitchen while she paces, the phone held in front of her with one hand while she chews on her thumbnail with the other.

With a wry smile, I pull out of my driveway and head toward the river and downtown. “I’m fine, Mom. I really am doing okay. With everything.”

And it’s the God’s honest truth. There were many times when I told my mom I was doing fine, and I was truly anything but. But now? The words I speak are accurate. Despite the bump Flash and I had yesterday at the launch event, there’s a buoyancy in me today. We’ve both seen the worst of the other’s scarred past, and yet we’ve come out on top. I feel closer to him than ever before, and I can’t wait to walk into our future together, hand in hand.

“And how’s that man of yours…Flash? Have I told you how much we enjoyed meeting him over Christmas?”

I roll my eyes, but a smile tugs at my mouth. “Yes, Mom. You’ve told me. More than once. And look, I’m late to meet him now, so I need to run, okay?”

I can almost tell the exact moment she stops pacing and smiles. “Okay, honey. Talk soon.”

I press the button on the steering wheel that ends the call, and pull up at the red light that separates new Savannah from historic Savannah. The smile that my mother’s mention of Flash brought to my lips hasn’t gone anywhere. Every single time I think of him, I smile, and once again, I find myself contemplating how I got here.

From the deep, dark cave of despair where I lived after I woke from the coma, to today. Where I live in the light. And I’m filled with hope and plans for a future I never thought would come.

It amazes me, when I really sit and think about it. But there’s also a small part of me, a part I try my best to hide, that feels the gnaw of guilt. The bite of sadness that still pierces my heart when I think about the fact that I’m moving on with my life without Trenton and Danté.

They were my whole world once…how can I put them behind me? If they knew, would they feel betrayed?

Forgotten?

Shaking my head to brush off the dark twist of my thoughts, I hit the gas as the light turns green. I’m supposed to be meeting Flash at The Art Of Java, so he can tell me how everything went at the police station this morning.

Shaking my head, I grumble inwardly for the hundredth time about the fact that he asked me not to come with him. I told him that I could file my own restraining order, but Flash said he knew someone on the force, and that he was going to handle things with Manheim in person afterward.

I shudder, just thinking about it. I might not admit it out loud, but I’m relieved Flash didn’t want me anywhere near that psycho.

The sound of a gunning engine, too close, is the first clue that lets me know something is wrong. The second is the alarming screech of brakes that rents the air.

Only one thought drifts through my head as I close my eyes and take a breath.

Not again.

* * *

Forsyth Park. Not only the place I love to run, but it’s also Danté’s favorite place. I turn in a slow circle, noting that everything is bright and lush and green, like spring.

But it’s not spring. It’s February. It should be stark and cold and quiet. The park is not nearly as nice in February.

I glance around me, the beauty of the landscape making the absence of crowds more obvious.

Why isn’t there anyone here? On a rare warm day in February, the park should be packed with people walking, running, or playing with their children.

Children.

Pain slices through my heart, pain that I can’t quite find the reason for, and I blink rapidly to hold back tears. Something’s wrong. What…what is it? My brain is so fuzzy. Why can’t I remember? And why is this ache so insistent?

“Ards.”

I turn around slowly, not quite understanding why my heart pounds at the sound of his voice. “Trenton?”

He’s sitting on our favorite bench overlooking the river. The bright blue sky and Kelly green his backdrop. His face…it’s perfect. But it’s always been perfect, that shouldn’t surprise me. Trenton is handsome in the classic, all-American way. Wavy, dark blond hair he wears styled just right. Khaki pants that hug his fit frame. A polo shirt tucked in; something he’d play golf in during a business meeting at the course. Perfect. Classic. So why does it all seem so…strange?

He smiles the same smile I fell in love with when we were just kids.

“Trenton?” My feet pull me toward him, and I drop down on the bench beside him.

He immediately takes my hand in his, kissing the back of my knuckles the way he’s done a thousand times. It feels like I just found something I’ve been missing for a long time.

So then why doesn’t it feel more right?

“What are we doing here?” I ask Trenton. “And why is it so warm?”

His blue eyes don’t sparkle the way they used to. He assesses me with what’s almost a sad smile on his face. “You’re not supposed to be here, Ards. But God, I missed you.”

Missed me? “I…I love you, Trenton. So much.”

He squeezes my hand, then reaches up to brush a lock of hair off my forehead. His touch is feather-light, and I close my eyes briefly as a lump forms in my throat.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” he repeats. “You need to go back.”

Panic flares again. Go back?

I glance around. “Where’s Danté? I don’t see him on the playground.”

I don’t see any children on the playground, but that doesn’t seem like the point right now. A wave of dizziness washes over me, and the edges of the beautiful scene before me blur. I blink, and everything rights itself.

“He’s home, Ards. We both are. We’re happy. I promise you. Don’t worry about us.” Trenton’s voice is wistful, and I can’t figure out what’s wrong.

I need to figure out what’s wrong.

“Of course we’re happy. We’ve always been happy, Trenton. We love each other. That will never change, right?” My voice lifts on the last word as my heartbeat continues to pound, pound, pound inside my chest.

Why is my heart beating so fast?

Trenton releases my hand and slides off the bench. He squats down in front of me and stares into my eyes. I always loved his eyes. They’re so deep, it feels like you can fall right into his soul. They’re the kindest, most caring, eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Listen to me, baby. You don’t belong here. Not yet. You need to go back.” Trenton’s voice carries all the gentleness it ever has, but it’s also firm.

Final.

“Why do you want me to leave? I don’t want to leave, Trenton.” I glance around one more time. My eyes cloud with tears when I look back at him. “I want to stay here with you.” I swallow. “Where’s Danté?”

He shakes his head slowly. “You can’t see him right now, Ards. You wouldn’t want to go back if you did, and you have to go.”

He smiles again, but it’s not right. It’s that sad smile again, the one I never used to see on Trenton. “Think, Ards. Think.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and savor the feel of his hands resting on my thighs. Then, instead of Trenton’s hands, I picture another set. They’re bigger, more scarred and calloused. They mean safety, and warmth. And they electrify my body like lightning.

I release a breath, and my eyes snap open.

“Flash.”

Trenton nods, his smile changing from sad to proud. “That’s my girl. You have to go back to him, baby. That’s where you belong now.”

I shake my head, frantic. “But I can stay here with you. I can be with Danté. I want…” My words trail away, because then I think about leaving Flash.

Pain lashes. My heart riots.

Leaving him would hollow me out. He’s a part of me now. I don’t want to lose him.

And I’ve already lost them.

“Think about what it would do to him if he lost you now. You can do this, Ards. You have so much more to do out there.” Trenton gestures toward the river, where a thick mist is gathering.

I squint, trying to see through the mist, but it’s too thick. It creeps closer, and I should be afraid of it. But I’m not.

I try one more time. “Danté needs me.”

Trenton squeezes my legs. “He has me. When it’s time, he’ll have you again. But it’s not time, Ards. You have a whole life to live before that time comes. You have a home to build. You have more babies to make. It’s going to be beautiful.”

Tears stream, soaking my cheeks and dripping from my chin. “But…”

Trenton shakes his head and stands, pulling me to my feet. He leans forward, and that touch, so damn light, lands on my forehead with a kiss. “You have to go. And you have to go now. Be happy, Ards.”

He gives me a gentle push toward the mist, and I take a few stumbling steps. When I turn around again, Trenton is gone.

“I love you,” I whisper to the now empty bench.

And then I turn and step into the swirling mist.