A Lot Like Adiós (Primas of Power, #2)

by Alexis Daria

“Look, love and romance just aren’t for me.” “But you deserve those things.”

Besides, there were still things left unsaid between them, and the words were piling up in his throat. Things like I used to love you and maybe I still do.

At some point they’d started holding hands, like a real couple. He didn’t know how it had happened. Maybe she’d taken his hand to pull him toward an exhibit, or he’d reached for her so as not to lose her in the crowd. But then . . . they hadn’t let go.

I’m not saying I don’t look damn good, but I’m not eighteen anymore. My body has definitely changed, and I’m okay with that. Cellulite and stretch marks are natural.”

It was a recurring theme. Michelle wanted to curse someone out, and Ava talked her down.

It didn’t matter that she’d opened up to him more than she ever had with anyone else. It didn’t matter that they were good together. It didn’t matter that she loved him.

Let it be real. But it wasn’t real. He’d just said so.

She’d known this was coming. From the beginning, he’d been clear that he was going back. It was her own stupid heart that had hoped he might change his mind.

Her heart pounded like it was going to jump right out of her chest and follow him to California.

She’d never felt this way with anyone else before, and she knew no one in the future would ever come close. Gabe was special. He was hers. But it wasn’t meant to be, and she had to get used to that fact.

Michelle’s heart twisted into a knot as she watched him walk away. A heavy sense of finality settled over her. This was truly the end.

It’s not too late, you know. For what? To run away. That’s your MO. Not mine.

It was hard to feel like the world was ending when you were surrounded by fresh-baked goods.

Heartache threatened to overwhelm her. Michelle’s immediate urge was to wrestle it down and lock it away so she could carry on like normal.

“I didn’t count on getting so close to him. On—” Michelle faltered, then spit it out. “On falling in love with him.”

Some families started out dysfunctional and stayed dysfunctional.

This was it. The thing Gabe had wanted for as long as he could remember. Acknowledgment and apology from his father. But it didn’t heal him as much as he’d thought it would. There was no sense of instant satisfaction, no validation balm applied to his soul. He’d wanted to show his father he was wrong. Well, mission accomplished. And so what?

He stopped, because no, that wasn’t right. However he’d felt about her in their teens was a pale shadow to what he felt now.

Before he could talk himself out of it, he attached the document and hit send. A second later, the “Message Sent” notification popped up. It was truly done now.

There were recent photos and older memories, all blended together to show him what he’d already known. He loved her. Always had and always would.

Part of me will always be waiting for you.

after finally reconnecting with her after all these years? Turning his back on all the work that needed to be done?

They both owned their own businesses, and were masters of their own fates. And now, those fates were intertwined.

You can never go home again. But now he knew that wasn’t true. Home was whatever, wherever, and whomever he wanted it to be.