been there and he was about to panic when a note on
the edge of the bed caught his attention.
79
Full Circle | Lisa Marie Davis
His name was written on the envelope and with
trembling hands he ripped it open and pulled out the letter inside.
Jaylin,
First, I want you to know I love you. Please,
don’t doubt that. I love you more than I can say,
far more than you will ever really know, and it’s
because I love you so much that I had to do this.
I’m leaving tonight for a rehabilitation facility. I
won’t tell you where. I don’t want you to know
and I don’t want you to try to find me. I have a lot
of healing ahead of me and there is a chance that
I will never fully heal and I certainly can’t think
about college or any of the plans we made in the
condition I’m in now.
I’m letting you go, Jaylin.
If you want to hate me for this, I understand. I
don’t blame you. But things are different now,
and the truth is, I’m different.
After what happened with Trent and Greg, I
don’t think I will ever be the same, and there is a
good chance the person you loved didn’t survive.
Go to college and have your life and know I
will never forget you. And please, don’t look for
me or try and find me. I’m letting go and you have
to do the same.
I’ll never forget you.
My love always, Max
80
Full Circle | Lisa Marie Davis
He read the letter and then reread it twice more, trying
to make it make sense, trying to understand how Max could
do this to him. He loved him. And he knew for a fact that
Max loved him. He knew what they shared was real, but Max
was gone. He was gone and he didn’t want Jaylin to try to
follow him or find him.
He set me free? What the fuck? I don’t want to be fucking set free! I want Max.
Unaware that he was crying, he felt his strength leave
him and he sank slowly to the floor, letter still gripped in his hand. He couldn’t make himself believe this was real. He and Max had plans, plans to be together, plans for their future.
And he wanted a future with Max. He wanted to build a life
with him; nothing that had happened had changed his hopes
and dreams and if Max still loved him, as he said he did,
Jaylin knew they could make it work.
It would be hard, certainly, and Max had a long road
ahead of him, but Jaylin could travel it with him and help
him.
He just had to make Max realize that.
He had to find him and make him realize that this
wasn’t right—being apart wasn’t right—when it wasn’t what
either of them really wanted.
Sitting there, crying, despite the shock and the hurt,
Jaylin could clearly see Chad Sydney’s devious fingerprints all over this mess.
81
Full Circle | Lisa Marie Davis
He tricked Max. Lied to him and twisted things. He’s a
manipulative bastard, but no way in hell will he get away with this shit! I will fight him. I’ll find Max and get him to open his eyes. I won’t allow the lies Chad spun to keep me and Max apart.
Drawing in a breath, he stood, still holding the letter,
heart still breaking, but he was bound and determined to
make things right.
He would find Max and get their relationship back on
track and that alone would show Chad Sydney that he
couldn’t control other people’s lives.
He couldn’t control the future.
Jaylin knew, in his heart and soul, that he and Max
were meant to be and he had no doubt at all that Max felt
the same.
We’ll be fine. As soon as I find him and see him again, everything will be just fine and we can pick up the pieces and move on together.
He and Max had true love on their side and no one
could destroy that or hinder it for long.
82
Full Circle | Lisa Marie Davis
Chapter Six
Seven Years Later
CASTING a glance over his shoulder, inwardly sighing in
relief to see the man he had left in bed was still sleeping soundly, Jaylin Ryan slipped from the bedroom and
carefully, quietly, maneuvered through the unfamiliar
apartment.
At fifteen minutes after
the edge of the bed caught his attention.
79
Full Circle | Lisa Marie Davis
His name was written on the envelope and with
trembling hands he ripped it open and pulled out the letter inside.
Jaylin,
First, I want you to know I love you. Please,
don’t doubt that. I love you more than I can say,
far more than you will ever really know, and it’s
because I love you so much that I had to do this.
I’m leaving tonight for a rehabilitation facility. I
won’t tell you where. I don’t want you to know
and I don’t want you to try to find me. I have a lot
of healing ahead of me and there is a chance that
I will never fully heal and I certainly can’t think
about college or any of the plans we made in the
condition I’m in now.
I’m letting you go, Jaylin.
If you want to hate me for this, I understand. I
don’t blame you. But things are different now,
and the truth is, I’m different.
After what happened with Trent and Greg, I
don’t think I will ever be the same, and there is a
good chance the person you loved didn’t survive.
Go to college and have your life and know I
will never forget you. And please, don’t look for
me or try and find me. I’m letting go and you have
to do the same.
I’ll never forget you.
My love always, Max
80
Full Circle | Lisa Marie Davis
He read the letter and then reread it twice more, trying
to make it make sense, trying to understand how Max could
do this to him. He loved him. And he knew for a fact that
Max loved him. He knew what they shared was real, but Max
was gone. He was gone and he didn’t want Jaylin to try to
follow him or find him.
He set me free? What the fuck? I don’t want to be fucking set free! I want Max.
Unaware that he was crying, he felt his strength leave
him and he sank slowly to the floor, letter still gripped in his hand. He couldn’t make himself believe this was real. He and Max had plans, plans to be together, plans for their future.
And he wanted a future with Max. He wanted to build a life
with him; nothing that had happened had changed his hopes
and dreams and if Max still loved him, as he said he did,
Jaylin knew they could make it work.
It would be hard, certainly, and Max had a long road
ahead of him, but Jaylin could travel it with him and help
him.
He just had to make Max realize that.
He had to find him and make him realize that this
wasn’t right—being apart wasn’t right—when it wasn’t what
either of them really wanted.
Sitting there, crying, despite the shock and the hurt,
Jaylin could clearly see Chad Sydney’s devious fingerprints all over this mess.
81
Full Circle | Lisa Marie Davis
He tricked Max. Lied to him and twisted things. He’s a
manipulative bastard, but no way in hell will he get away with this shit! I will fight him. I’ll find Max and get him to open his eyes. I won’t allow the lies Chad spun to keep me and Max apart.
Drawing in a breath, he stood, still holding the letter,
heart still breaking, but he was bound and determined to
make things right.
He would find Max and get their relationship back on
track and that alone would show Chad Sydney that he
couldn’t control other people’s lives.
He couldn’t control the future.
Jaylin knew, in his heart and soul, that he and Max
were meant to be and he had no doubt at all that Max felt
the same.
We’ll be fine. As soon as I find him and see him again, everything will be just fine and we can pick up the pieces and move on together.
He and Max had true love on their side and no one
could destroy that or hinder it for long.
82
Full Circle | Lisa Marie Davis
Chapter Six
Seven Years Later
CASTING a glance over his shoulder, inwardly sighing in
relief to see the man he had left in bed was still sleeping soundly, Jaylin Ryan slipped from the bedroom and
carefully, quietly, maneuvered through the unfamiliar
apartment.
At fifteen minutes after