Ravaged (Burned Inc. #2)

by Naima Simone

For my sanity, for my eventual peace, I have to let her go. Another reason I asked her to give Daniel a chance. Maybe if I see with my own eyes that she’s happy, that she’s with a good man who is deserving of her, then as painful as it will be, I can let go of the fantasy of her. Of us.

Friends are beautiful, priceless blessings. And other times, like now, they’re complete pains in the ass.

“I was afraid to share this side of me with you,” she admits. “But no one has ever seen me the way you have. Truly seen me. And then accepted me. But you did. You do. In your eyes, I’m bold when I want nothing more than to hide. I’m brave when I’m scared shitless. I’m brighter than the sun when I feel invisible. I don’t know why I was ever afraid to share this”—she turns and waves a hand toward the panel and actors—“with you. Before, you said Narnia showed you how to dream big. Showed you the greatness in yourself. You do that for me. You’re my Narnia.”

“Maybe the reason Cyrus didn’t ask for her hand in marriage is because this isn’t the 1950s and she’s a grown woman perfectly capable of making the decision on her own of whether or not she wants to marry the man she loves. And maybe the reason he didn’t invite you to the party is because he wanted to give the woman he adores a happy evening with joy-filled memories and not one filled with resentment, bickering, and toxicity. Those are just my immediate thoughts.”

You’re . . . everything. My Narnia.