Chapter 16
When Blake ended his leave and came back to work, nobody mentioned the canceled wedding. Like it never happened.
His eyes used to be bright, always had this spark. Now they were just empty black holes, and his face was stone cold 24/7.
That day they got a call-car crash on Riverside Drive, couldn’t reach the victim’s family.
Blake pulled his cap down low-the scruff poking out made him look like he’d been living rough-and hauled ass to the hospital.
Blake had just finished dealing with the paperwork and was about to head back when he saw Sophia in the ER waiting area looking like absolute shit.
She was gripping some test results, tears hitting the floor.
“Sophia? What’s going on?” Blake walked over.
Sophia looked up startled, then threw herself into Blake’s arms.
She buried her face against his chest, sobbing “Blake, my dad… he’s really sick.”
Blake’s hands started to push her away, then just dropped to his sides.
He let her cry into his chest.
When she finally calmed down, she stepped back and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
‘Sorry, I totally lost it there…”
It’s fine.” Blake patted her shoulder. “What’s wrong with your dad? Anything I can do to help?”
Sophia stammered, staying quiet for a while before saying: “You’re not a doctor. What could you possibly do?”
When their eyes met, she looked away.
3lake noticed she was still wearing the platinum wedding ring they’d packed out together, the metal glinting coldly.
Hope your dad feels better.”
3lake started walking away, but Sophia grabbed his sleeve and whispered:
‘Blake, is this really over between us?”
‘Stella’s gone. She wouldn’t want you stuck in the past forever. If you need time, I can give you time…”
Blake gently pulled away and stepped back, his uniform making a soft rustling sound.
He looked at her shaky eyelashes, then looked down, voice all hoarse.
“I’m sorry.”
“I thought time would heal everything. Thought I could love you back. But I just… can’t
Sophia’s eyes were red and puffy as she forced a smile. “Blake, it doesn’t matter if you love me. I don’t give a shit. I just wanna be with you…”
Blake shut her down. “Sophia, you deserve way better than this.”
Right as he finished talking, he ran into Riley at the pharmacy counter picking up antidepressants.
At the coffee shop, Riley slammed her pill bottle on the table, her voice cutting through the cold air.
“Blake, quit with the tragic widower bullshit now that she’s dead. If you actually loved Stella, if you couldn’t get over her, why the hell did you shack up with Sophia? Why were you gonna fucking marry her?”
Blake stared out at the snow covered airy, the sky looking like absolute shit.
“Because…”
He choked up. Because why?
Because he was being a spiteful asshole. Trying to prove to Stella-and himself-that he didn’t need her.
He’d totally used Sophia, thinking she could help him forget about Stella.
But the whole thing was doomed from day one. He was never gonna stop loving Stella, and Sophia was never gonna get the guy she deserved.
Riley let out this heavy sigh.
‘Blake, Stella’s gone. Just let her go.”
she wanted to tear into him, but what right did she have? What ground could she stand on?
she hadn’t been there for Stella during her worst times either…
etting Blake move on was what Stella would’ve wanted.
With that, she turned and walked away.
lake pushed through the heavy glass door and saw Sophia helping her mom, who looked like hell-bloodshot eyes, voice all raspy.
s they were leaving, he heard Mrs. Reed say: Sophia’s dad has leukemia.
How is that possible? How does your dad have leukemia…”
