the broken pieces of the music box on the desk in front of me. Each splinter fel

in the living room. She came out dr

alm. The storm inside me had passed, leavin

"Liam, don't be so dramatic. I know you're upset about the

"It's about you. You didn't even l

dness in her eyes, only irritation. "Mark saved my life. I owe him. And Billy is a sweet

ag. "I'm not the man you want, Emily. I don't thin

o say something, to stop me, to show s

you need some space, take it. But don't expect me

ess. It was relief. Like a weight I didn't know I was carrying had finall

post from Mark Miller. It was a photo. Emily, Mark, and Billy were sitting in a booth

so. Billy was holding up a slice of pizza. Mark had his arm ar

ave to clear out the negativity to let the light i

y was letting him. She was sitting there, in our special

rah Jenkins's number from my call his

voice was crisp

O'Connell

use. "Is every

ing out stronger than I fel

y for

id. "Let's do it. To

I could hear the faint sound of

he finally said.