Free Me After You by Mindy Hayes Page A

you won’t get a second chance this time. You’re not going to be able to replace that one, Dean.”
    “Trust me,” I grunt. “I’m well aware of that fact.” I tried. Several times.
    “I’m sure you are. I forgave you for walking out on all of us all those years ago, but you didn’t see what it did to Sawyer. If you want to make it right, you’ve got to start now. It’s going to take a lot of time.”
    “I had valid reasons for leaving.”
    “I understand why you left, but she doesn’t. I don’t think it was the right decision, but that doesn’t matter now. None of that changes the fact that you have to make it right.”
    Everything he says makes sense. I get it. But the loyal side of my heart knows I can’t disrespect Lily. She’s stuck around for everything even though she knew the reason I came home in the first place. How could I be so cold and drop her? I care too much about her to be that heartless.

    My dad’s grave is bare. Headstones surround his, filled with flags and flowers and pinwheels left by loved ones, while his remains as lonely as his life.
    I kneel down in front of it, running my fingers over his full name—Joseph Dean Preston 1961-2009. That’s all it says. Did anyone go to his funeral? Did they have one, or was he simply buried? I break down. It’s the strangest feeling—mourning the loss of someone I never even liked. But he was my dad. He was the only family I had left. Why did you leave me all by myself? Now I’m officially alone. The finality of it hits me and sends me spiraling. I did this. I brought this on myself. My fists pound the headstone settled in the soil until they sting.
    “Dean?” A voice shoots me up onto my feet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
    I spin around to see Lily Jamison standing behind me with uncertainty in her shoulders. Her eyes turn down with concern. Swiftly, I rub my hands across my cheeks. Embarrassment flushes my face as I exhale and look away with my jaw clenched.
    “Hey, Lily,” I murmur.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I couldn’t believe it was actually you. I was visiting my grandparents’ grave and saw you. You’re back.” She pauses, but when I don’t say anything, she continues cautiously. “It’s okay to be upset, you know. It must suck to come back to find everyone you love is gone.”
    My gaze shoots to her. The look in my eyes must scare her because she flinches.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to overstep,” she mumbles.
    “It’s fine.” I shake my head and run the back of my hand under my nose. “Stop apologizing.”
    She nods. “Okay.”
    “He’s been gone for three months, and I didn’t have a single clue. I didn’t even come back because I heard about his death. Makes me a pretty lousy son, huh?”
    She presses her lips together and shakes her head. “No one knew how to get a hold of you. How would you have known?”
    “If I hadn’t left in the first place,” I mutter under my breath. It’s more for my benefit than for hers.
    “You obviously had a reason for leaving. You wanna talk about it? I’m a great listener.”
    Shaking my head, I begin to walk away without saying anything else when she reaches out to touch my arm. Her fingers latch on to me, stopping me. I lift my gaze to hers, and the compassion in her eyes keeps me in place. “It’s probably the last thing you feel like doing, but I’m here if you want. I wouldn’t mind.”
    I consider her words, but I have no intention of talking to her about this. When I asked Alix for help, she didn’t want anything to do with me. Why would Lily? “Thanks,” I say, stepping out of her grasp and walk away.
    “I mean it, you know?” she calls out.
    I nod without turning back.

SAWYER

    A LIX TOLD ME my nails were atrocious. Yes, she actually said atrocious. So she made us nail appointments and told me to meet her in town since she was already running errands. I wait for her on a wooden bench near Timberpond Park