Releasing 10 (Boys of Tommen, #6)

by Chloe Walsh

“Claire told me you started seeing someone,” she whispered, reaching over the table with her free hand to stroke my hair. “I want you to know it’s okay.” I broke down. I couldn’t help it. Right there in the middle of school, I cried my fucking heart out. “It’s okay,” Liz continued to soothe, while I fought to pull myself together. “I want you to be happy.” My ears were ringing. My heart was gunning in my chest. My heart was insisting I had taken a wrong turn in life and demanding that I turn back.

“It’s new,” I finally managed to say when I steadied myself. “I, ah…” Roughly clearing my throat, I wiped my eyes with my sleeve and forced myself to look at her. “Her name is Katie.” When her blue eyes met mine, I felt the pull. The undeniable bond that linked my soul to hers. The one that no amount of time or distance seemed to sever. “Is she good to you?” Sniffling, I nodded. “Yeah, she’s really good to me.” The sadness in her eyes was killing me, and I had to fight every instinct inside of me to not pull her into my arms. Because it felt like I had been programmed to protect this girl. The only problem was, I needed protection from her. Because no one could hurt me like Liz could. “I’m happy for you.” She tried to smile but choked out a pained sob. “I swear I am,” she hurried to say, as she pulled her hand from mine. “It’s just h-hard.” I understood. I knew exactly how she felt. A wave of panic washed over me when I watched her stand up and retrieve her books and schoolbag. I wanted to shout don’t go, but it wouldn’t have helped either one of us. “I’ll always love you, Hugh Biggs,” Liz said when she rounded the table and stopped in front of me. Inhaling a quivering breath, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek before whispering, “No matter what.” And then she was gone.