I couldn't help but feel hurt when we got home and Lucas used work as an excuse to get away from me. That rebuke stung more than I would have liked to admit.

Monica seemed just as surprised by Lucas' behavior as I was. "This is always a difficult time for him but I thought having you there would be easier for him."

I frowned. "For all of them. I never knew Justin but I can see he meant a lot to them."

Monica sighed before throwing an arm around my shoulder. "Let's grab some coffee, then you can tell me all about your weekend away."

I followed Monica into the house, all the way to the kitchen. My mind kept drifting back to yesterday. I couldn't understand how Lucas just shut himself off like that and I actually wished I knew how. Then, I wouldn't have to be so damn confused.

I wanted to talk to someone, but everyone I knew in Silver Point was a close friend to Lucas. There was no way I was going to discuss him with his own friends and family.

For the first time since coming to Silver Point, I felt truly alone.

I dropped down at the breakfast counter and a minute later, Monica handed me a steaming cup of coffee. "So, how was the camping? I know it's not something you normally do."

I couldn't help but smile. Despite the awkwardness between Lucas and me, the weekend itself was a lot of fun. "It was amazing. This place is so beautiful, I almost never want to leave." 

"Do you want to stay?" Monica asked before taking a sip of coffee.

"I don't know. I like it here but it's not my home."

"You know, home isn't necessarily where you were born. It's the place where you want to be at the end of a long day. Silver Point is that for me. I've lived and lost a lot here, but it's my little slice of heaven."

For the next week, Lucas won the Olympic gold medal for ignoring me. That didn't keep him away entirely though, at night, he would crawl into my bed. I'd be too tired to say anything and far too happy just to have him there.

But it was slowly getting old, and I was getting pissed. If he was going to ignore and avoid me, then he had to stay the hell away. I shoved another box to the middle of the floor and started separating the contents. Then I dusted everything down and put them back inside the box, before taping it up.

All through the week, I helped Monica at the shop. We spent most of our time in the warehouse going through the boxes that came from my home. I had hoped to see Lucas at least once but he seemed to be an expert at avoiding me.

I hated it. More so, I hated to admit that I hated it. That meant I cared and I desperately didn't want to.

Monica walked into the big warehouse and handed me a wrapped sloppy joe. I grabbed it, before stuffing my face and sighing in delight. "Thank you, Monica. I needed this." Then my eyes drifted back to the mountain of boxes we still had to go through, "do you have any whiskey on you?"

Monica laughed. "I'm afraid not hon. Why don't you take a little break, I'll go on here then."

I nodded my head before getting up and walking to the small garden outside. Sitting down, I pulled the fourth letter from my pocket. Ever since we came back from the camping trip, I carried this around with me.

If I ever needed to hear my mom's voice it was now.

I ripped the letter open and instead of one, two fell out of the envelope. One had my name on it and the other had Monica's name one. I nearly choked on my food and grabbed my letter.

Dear Kit

A long time ago, I had a best friend. Monica Danvers. She was a wild one back in the day and we used to get into so much trouble back then.

I'm particularly fond of the time we wrapped Mr. Walintzki's car with toilet paper. She had a way of making me do crazy things that always ended up in the principal's office. But, she was always there when I needed her.

Of all the friends I've had in my life, she's the one I think of most. Because of how I left things, I was never able to tell her how much her friendship meant to me. Or how much I missed her. I'm hoping that I can now, and teach you the value of true friends.

No one should go through this life alone and I know my mistakes cost me some of the best people in my life. I don't want you to have to go through that.

When life throws you some curveballs, remember to rely on your friends. You will be able to tell the good from the bad, don't try and take on life alone.

Life is hard, but people can make it beautiful.

Now, I'm going to ask you something, and I know it might be selfish of me but I will never get the chance to do it myself. The second letter in this envelope is for Monica. If you are in Silver Point, make sure she gets it.

Love
Mom

By the time I reached the end of the letter, I had cried and giggled. I didn't know how she knew I needed these letters, or how much they would help me but she did. More than anything, I just wanted a hug from her.

Usually, mom's letters always left me with a sense of sadness. After this one, I felt strangely lighter.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and walked back inside to find Monica. I guess even mom couldn't have known we would find each other.

Monica was busy wiping down a vase when I walked back into the warehouse. She turned just in time for me to hand her the letter.

She wiped her hands down on a cloth before tossing it to the side and taking the letter. "What's this?"

I smiled. "A letter. From my mom."

Monica looked up with wide eyes glistening with tears. "She wrote a letter for me?"

My own tears rose to the surface and I nodded my head. "Yeah, you had a really big impact on her." I laughed. "Did you really cover someone's car in toilet paper?"

Monica threw her head back and laughed. She wiped her tears away, placed a hand over her chest, and smiled brightly. "Yes! Oh, I remember that day. We got detention for a month and I remember your mom telling me that I got her into trouble."

"She talks highly of you but I know why. You are an amazing person, Monica."

Monica bit her lip before shaking her head. "Now don't go making my cry hon. We have work to do."

My phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket. "Hello?"

"Hi, Katelyn. It's Jackson."

I frowned. "Hi, Jackson. What's up?"

"We just dispatched the truck to your house, I was hoping you could be there when they arrive. Just to make sure everything is as you wanted it."

I wondered why Jackson was calling and not Lucas. When the project started, Lucas was always the one who kept me in the loop and notified me of things. So it was strange to have Jackson calling me.

"Okay." My frown deepened but I shook it off. "I'll be there now."

I said goodbye to Jackson and turned to Monica. "I have to go, they're bringing all the new woodwork for the house, and Jackson wants me to make sure everything is okay."

Monica shook her head. "I was hoping that was Lucas calling. That boy really needs to get his head out of his ass."

I smiled and gave Monica a tight hug before leaving. There was still a slight chance that Lucas could be waiting at the house. He wouldn't let anyone take over the project and I knew him well enough to know he wouldn't leave it in someone else's hands.

When I arrived at the house, there was a big truck dominating the front of the street. People were already busy carrying large wrapped items into the house. Layton stood on the front lawn with a clipboard in hand, marking off as the men carried everything inside.

I hopped out of my car and walked over to him. "Hi, Layton. Is Lucas inside?"

Layton stiffened and I felt that little bit of hope crumbles. "He's, uh, busy. So he asked me to take over here today."

"Uh-huh."

I left Layton and walked into the house because I didn't want him to see the hurt on my face. I kept telling myself that what I was feeling was irrational. Lucas and I haven't known each other that long, I couldn't possibly feel anything for him.

Convincing my head proved to be easier than convincing my heart. If he didn't want to see me anymore all he had to do was a man up and say something. Instead, he was ghosting me.

As the morning turned into the afternoon, I started to feel more embarrassed and hurt than I was letting on. I helped Layton direct the men on where to carry the furniture and helped check everything.

After that, I sent a text to Jackson, letting him know that everything was perfect. By the end of the day, I was fuming.

I was busy signing the release papers when Layton walked up to me. "I'm sorry that Lucas isn't here."

"It's his choice, Layton." I signed the paper and handed it to him. "Besides, I'm a big girl and I honestly don't need him to hold my hand."

My words sounded far braver than I felt. And I hated feeling the way I did. There was a rational part of my brain that kept telling me to just move on and forget about him, but there was another part of me that didn't want to. I detested that part.

I got into my car and left. Around halfway to Lucas' house, I pulled over and called Chloe.

She answered on the second ring. "Tell me we're going shopping."

I laughed. "How about just coffee. My feet are not going to survive shopping with you."

Chloe grumbled. "Fine, I'll meet you at The Magic Bean in ten. Tell Casey I want cheesecake and a double espresso."

I arrived before Chloe so I placed our orders and waited in a corner booth. She arrived exactly ten minutes later and put of breath.

Chloe fell down in the booth and took a dramatic sniff of her coffee. "God, I needed that."

I laughed. "And here I thought I had a bad day!"

Chloe let out a huge breath. "Parental issues, don't even get me started."

I held my coffee cup up to her in a salute. "Totally relatable."

Chloe tipped her cup against mine and I laughed.

"So, you know why I need caffeine but why do you need it."

I tolled my eyes. "Sometimes a girl just wants her java. What's wrong with that."

"Nothing, except the 'I'm about to commit murder' look you have on your face. Come on, talk to me. What's going on."

Mom's words came back to me in a rush and I closed my eyes and sighed. "After the camping trip, Lucas has been avoiding me. And I know I shouldn't care—"

"But you do."

I dropped my head onto the table. "I feel so stupid. I mean, you'd think I could catch the hint by now."

"You're not stupid, Katelyn. Lucas is. If I were you, I'd freaking demand his ass to talk."

I peeked up from my arms. "I can't do that, Chloe. We're not together, we barely even know each other. What if this is just hos way of saying it was fun but it's over now."

I felt vile even saying the words. They cut into my flesh like barb wire and made me feel sick. In my heart, I knew what was between Lucas and I was more than just physical. Calling it less felt wrong.

Or maybe it was just time for that fairytale bubble to burst around me.

Chloe took my hand. "Katelyn, if that's really what he wants, and I seriously doubt that he needs to tell you. Don't let him ghost you."