Page 288 of Sweet Nightmare

“I know.”

“I prayed for years you’d meet someone.”

I blink.

“You prayed?”

“Every day.”

“What?”

“For years.”

I stare at her for a moment before bending down to kiss her cheek.

“Thank you for loving me,” I murmur. “And I guess your prayers brought her into my life, so... thank you for that, too.”

Her smile softens.

“I love you, too.”

I glance down at the note again.

At the cute little jellyfish.

At the words she’s left behind.

I’ll be back.

A slow smile spreads across my face.

No one has ever cared enough to stay. So I learned early not to expect anyone to come back, either.

It was easier that way.

Expect nothing. Need no one. Leave first.

Then Artemis walked into my life with thirteen suitcases, an attitude problem, and ice in her veins and changed everything.

Now she’s left me a note promising she’ll return.

And once, I’m not going to sit around waiting for someone to come back to me.

I’m going to meet her halfway.

I look up at Mrs. Han. “For the first time in my life...”

I smile.

“I’m chasing winter.”

Her eyes fill with tears.

“There you are.”

I frown. “What?”

“The little boy I knew was always still in there. Now go her our pretty girl”