TALIA
Alex stared at me for a long time. It was completely silent as we looked into each other’s eyes. Finally, Alex responded, “Okay, Talia, I will let him back. I’m sorry I banished your friend.” He paused and took a deep breath. His eyes filled with emotion, and he continued, “But I hope you understand why I did it. When I saw the two of you together, it was the most painful thing I’d ever experienced in my life. Goddess, Talia, I’m in love with you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I would do anything for you. To me, you are perfect. And seeing you with someone else—I can’t think of anything that could hurt more except maybe you dying. That’s the only thing I can think of that would hurt me more.”
I sensed his pain, the same pain I felt the day that it happened. It wasn’t
