All My Broken Pieces (FindingLight #2)

Chapter 25

Fallon

“What do you mean she’s not coming back?” Ava hisses, her voice carrying down the hall. “What are we supposed to tell her?”

I stare down at the book in my lap, reading the words but not understanding a single one.

It took several hours for the hysterics to calm down, and even still the rest of the night I had spent curled up on the couch a second away from tears. Even now, almost twenty-four hours later, I find the overwhelming emotions suffocating.

My only solace had been the hope that Andrew would be able to get her out of whatever trouble Arriana had managed to land herself in. I wasn’t sure how her friend was going to manage that, but apparently he has connections or something like that.

But the hushed words of my friend dash that hope away.

Setting the book down, I climb off the bed and make my way toward the living space where Ava and Killian are perched in the kitchen. “What’s going on?” My voice is hollow as I ask the question, knowing if I let out even a fraction of the emotions bubbling up, I’ll be a blubbering mess once more.

“Fallon.” Ava breathes, darting around the island to pull me into her arms. “How are you feeling?”

I shrug, glancing over her shoulder to Killian whose gaze remains fixated on his phone. “Fine.” I mumble, pulling out of Ava’s embrace. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

She glances behind her, scrunching up her face. “Um, I’m not sure how to tell you…” Her voice trails off.

“Arriana isn’t coming back.” Killian grunts, not looking up.

Ava gasps, reaching over to smack his arm, hissing, “ Killian .”

He glances up, narrowing his eyes at her. “Watch it, baby girl.” He warns.

Ava tries to hide the flinch at his words, but we all notice. Killian’s expression softens, and he takes her hand. “I’m sorry. There’s just a lot…” Trailing off once more, he looks down, immediately pushing to his feet. “I gotta take this.” Exiting the room, he holds the phone to his ear without saying a word.

I watch mutely after him, my mind replaying his words over and over.

“Arriana isn’t coming back.”

“Arriana isn’t coming back.”

She’s…

Clapping my hand over my mouth, I hiccup a sob, trying to keep up the patchwork dam I’d built around the sea of emotions.

“Hey, no, none of that. We’ll figure this out.” Ava soothes, tightening her hold on me. “Why don’t I get us something to drink, hmm?” Without waiting for a response, she steps back and begins her hunt for something to comfort me in liquid form.

I don’t respond, I can’t respond, too lost in my head.

Is this what it felt like for her? When I left, did it feel like a piece of her was ripped away? Like she’d never be whole again. How could I…

My mind replays broken bits and pieces of memories, splicing them together in a horrible slideshow of my worst moments.

Packing my bag, I feel the tears stinging my eyes. I know this is the right thing to do, that it’ll be better for both of us. But it hurts so damn much.

One painful memory bleeds to another.

I wake up, finding the bed empty. The sound of muffled voices reaches me from down the hall. Stretching, I groan as my sore muscles pop. My hand lands on a piece of paper on Arriana’s pillow. Flicking my eyes to the doorway, I shoot upright and snatch the page, squinting to read it in the dim light. My heart shatters as I read the words.

Blinking, I push away the memories, but I can’t stop the thoughts.

Why is this happening to us?

Are we never going to be happy?

Do we not get to be?

“We finally found each other again.” I mumble, the pain inside breaking free.

Ava sets a mug in front of me, gripping my bicep and squeezing. “I know, babe. And we’ll get her back, I promise.”

I nod my head, even though I don’t believe it. I can’t believe it. Because it’s becoming clear our love was doomed from the start.

Taking the warm cup, I gingerly lift it to my lips, sipping at the velvety chocolate and wishing I had something a little stronger. Something to numb some of this pain.