She’s supposed to be here today. She should be here already. I told security to alert me the second she arrived.
I want to give her a personal tour, and I want—God help me—the chance to talk to her.
Assuming she doesn’t bolt at the sight of me.
She might punch me. She’s feisty enough. She might cry.
Or worse… she might look straight through me like I don’t exist.
That last one hits hardest.
Five years, three months, and twenty-four days. I’ve felt every one of them.
I stayed away because I thought it was best for her. She won’t see it that way.
The last time we saw each other, we argued. Then we fucked. The next morning, before sunrise, I left. No explanation. No goodbye.
I had to. If I’d stayed, I never would’ve gone.
What we had was incredible. It was also turning toxic—because of me. My self-destruction was bleeding into her life, and I couldn’t stand seeing that hurt in her eyes.
So I made sure she’d hate me.
It didn’t change how I felt. Not even close.
I kept tabs on her over the years. Told myself it was just to make sure she was okay.
But no matter how often I thought about her, how many times she showed up in my dreams, I stayed away.
Until she reached out about the retreat.
I should’ve said no. I didn’t.
Because suddenly she was within reach again.
I check the clock. Too much time has passed.
Damn it. Where is she?
Did she take the wrong road? Did she break down on the mountain?
“Jeez,” I mutter, heading out of my office.
The meditation classes are underway, soft voices drifting through the halls, water trickling in the courtyard, bells chiming faintly in the background.
None of it touches the tension in my chest.
I push outside into the bright daylight just as the compound gates begin to slide open.
Relief hits first, then stops cold. A red truck rolls through.
Luke.
But he’s not alone. In the passenger seat, I catch a glimpse of blonde hair. A familiar profile. A smile I’d know anywhere.
Sierra.
Even after I clawed my way through my own healing, even after I exorcised most of my demons, I still didn’t reach out. I figured I was the last person she’d want to hear from, so I kept my distance.