Page 20 of Forged Forever

Hoping someday we can come together again. My heart is incomplete without you.

E

“Damn him.” I take an unsteady breath in and pass the note to Seb. “Have you read it?”

“No Sunshine. It’s between you and E.” He folds the note and puts it back in the envelope. “Open the next gift from me.”

Putting my hand in the bag, I find a jewelry box with a charm bracelet inside. Looking closer, I see a lily flower, a sweet pea flower, and a heart. The last item is another envelope. I open the flap to find a letter written on heavyweight paper.

Dear Summer,

The moment I saw you sitting in Z’s office with your head down, I felt drawn to you. When you looked up at me and sassed me, I fell a little in love with you.

My unending questions and hurricane personality didn’t faze you. You welcomed me into your life despite being scared.

When you trusted me to share your worries, I knew we were meant to be in each other’s lives.

I didn’t realize how amazing it would be when my heart filled to capacity. You were the one I was waiting for.

You’ve heard me say E was my forever, but he is only half. You are my forever, too.

I’ve been blessed to find the two people who make my soul sing so early in life.

I will forever treasure you, be here for you, cherish you, and love you.

Hurry

Oh, my beating heart. “This is the most beautiful thing ever.” I wrap my arms around Seb’s shoulder, holding him tight. My eyes are glistening at such a romantic gesture. “Thank you. I’ll treasure this always.”

Seb buries his face in my neck in return. “I hope this replaces the bad memories of getting letters too.”

Nodding, we hold each other tight until I remember my gift for him. “Oh, I almost forgot yours.” Pulling back, I rush into the house. I left his present on the island. “Hi Dad. Grabbing Seb’s present. Be back,” I wave, jogging by.

I hear his chuckle before going back outside. Handing Seb a gift bag, I retake my seat beside him. He pulls out the wooden box, eyebrows raised quizzically. Flipping the latch, he opens it up. Inside is an assortment of small items from the times we spent together since we met. Receipts, ticket stubs, photos, and other little items from the past year. “Is this all from us?”

“Yeah, all the times we did things together. I kept little mementos. There's plenty of room to keep adding memories.”

“Perfect Sunshine.” He tilts my chin up with his thumb and forefinger, his warm, plump lips kissing me gently. The smooth glide of his soft lips caressing mine has me reaching to run my fingers through his hair, moving closer. He gently nips my lower lip before running his hot tongue across it. I open immediately, sucking his tongue into my mouth. A low groan emits from deep in Seb’s throat as our kiss turns heated quickly. I pull away, breathless, cognizant of Dad nearby. “I should get inside. Thanks for a great night, Hurry.”

Seb stands and pulls me up, following me in the door. “Hey Z,” he waves before kissing my cheek. “Bye, Sunshine.”

I show Zander my conservatory passes and bracelet before deciding to have a bath, keeping the letters for myself. What a memorable night.

Chapter 12

A few days later, we celebrate Mom’s birthday. Zander helps me make a cake for her, and we take it over to Jake’s condo. I light the candles, and Jake helps me blow them out after singing Happy Birthday, and Ray, Jake, and I share stories about her as we eat. It’s happy and bittersweet. The more time passes, the more I can focus on the happy memories, although I doubt there will ever be a time without sadness.

The next day after school, when I get to Jake’s condo, I find silence greeting me when I enter. Ray pokes his head out of Jake’s room with a grim look on his face when I call out. Rushing to his room, I see a shell-shocked Jake talking to Cameron on a video call. “What happened?” I whisper to Ray.

“We had some unexpected visitors when we returned from physiotherapy today. Jake’s step siblings were loitering around the building when we got home. They didn’t acknowledge me or Will, but were very interested in speaking with Jake.”

My eyebrows hit my hairline. “Wow.”

I walk over and settle on the edge of his bed as he finishes his call to Cameron. “Hey handsome. I heard you met some interesting people today.”

“Yeah…interesting.” He seems confused and stressed.

I grab his hand in mine and stroke the back of it with my thumb.