Page 106 of When Forever Falls Apart

“You named a dapple-colored dachshund Douglas?”

I place my hands on my hips. “Yes, I did. Douglas is my dog. We live in Eva’s old apartment still, because I decided to use my funds to open this store. Douglas enjoys a gentle morning stroll after breakfast and a solid run in the afternoon. He also enjoys napping next to the hockey romance books. I’m not sure what that’s about because we tried moving him, and he just keeps going back to the hockey section. Anything else you need to know about my life?”

“Madelina…” Elliot whispers softly.

“No, Elliot,” I warn him, avoiding his gaze. “You walk in after six months of silence, and expect me to just be okay? Well, I’mnot. What I am is good at putting up a facade so no one thinks I’m still brokenhearted over my best friend’solder brother leaving town. If you know what’s good for you, or if you even remotely care about me still, please take that book and leave me to process you walking into this bookstore unexpectedly.”

With my heart beating incredibly fast, I head straight for the pile of boxes again and turn my back on him.

After what feels like eternity, the door chimes again, and Elliot is gone.

I press my hands against the boxes, but the weight of his return is too much. I hate that I still crave him, and that after all the time that has passed, every part of me is still in love with him.

Forgiveness isn’t as easy as people may think.

But I know, deep down, that forgiving Elliot is the only way I can move on.

With or without him.

At exactly the same time the next afternoon, the door chimes, prompting me to notice that someone has entered the bookstore.

Last night, I binged-watchedGilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. I needed any distraction from the fact that Elliot has returned to town.

Neither Eva nor Billie mentioned anything, and I suspect they knew, which is why they haven’t called or texted. For all I know, Elliot only returned to tell me he’s marrying Nicole or some French heiress.

Clearly, watching Logan Huntzberger marry someone else still hurts me to this day.Why couldn’t he and Rory get their shit together?

A familiar snort echoes from behind me. I swiftly turn around to see Elliot standing inside the store with Margaret Anne on a leash.

“You’re back, and it appears you’ve brought reinforcement,” I mention with a bored expression to mask my surprise.

“I finished reading the book you recommended,” Elliot states simply. “Willow gave Gabriel a second chance.”

“She did,” I agree, but something compels me to turn my back on him once more. I’m scared he’ll see just how vulnerable I am because no matter how hard I try, seeing him again is just too hard.

He is no longermine.

Douglas steps out of the storeroom again, but this time, he appears on alert, like he’s locked in a standoff with Margaret Anne. I want so much to go over and rub behind her ears like many times before, but I don’t want Elliot to see my weakness, plus Douglas would get all jealous.

“Madelina,” Elliot whispers, his voice so close, I’m dead sure he’s right behind me. “Please turn around.”

“If I turn around,” I murmur with a timid voice, “you’ll see just how much you hurt me by leaving.Six whole months, Elliot. You hurt me.”

“I wanted to call you but…”

“You had every chance. I could have called you, too, but what was the point? You left, and that was that.”

“Please, Bugs. Turn around,” he pleads.

The fond nickname stirs an array of emotions. Slowly, I turn around, only to see Elliot on his knee with a dark green box in his hand.

My hand flies to my chest. “Wha… what the hell are you doing?”

“I traveled across the world to a life I thought would make me happy. A job that was my dream job, a city with a penthouse apartment overlooking the ocean. The entire world was handed to me, but none of it, and I meannone of it, made any sense without you. I love you, Madelina, and if I have to readevery second-chance book in this store, I will do it, because my life doesn’t exist without you.”

The walls inside my chest slowly cave in as I stare into the eyes of the man who stole my heart in this very town. I see the raw emotion on Elliot’s face. The way his mesmerizing blue eyes draw me in with their vulnerable stare.

I see a man, broken as much as I am, realizing that our dreams are nothing if we don’t have each other.