A Forever Kind of Love by Shiloh Walker Page A

was one she’d never, ever forgot, even after all this time.
    Her heart slammed against her ribs and her body cried out, screamed for more.
    But before she could give in, she pulled back. “Good-bye, Chase.”
     
     
    So this is what it feels like, being the one left behind.
    Chase could still taste Zoe on his lips, could still feel her pressed against him.
    Could still see the bright banner of her hair as she made her way through the store.
    But she was as good as gone.
    Had she felt like this, he wondered. All those years ago, when he left Warren without much more than a backward glance.
    Had she felt like her heart had been ripped out of her chest?
    Shaken, empty, he sank into the chair behind his desk and covered his face with his hands.
    He wanted to chase after her, but he couldn’t.
    There had been something in her eyes.
    Despite the pain ripping through him, he had seen something in her eyes as she told him.
    She needed to do this.
    And she needed to do it without him.
    He had to let her go.
    Reaching inside his shirt, he closed his hand around the Z he still wore.
    His bleeding, battered heart told him to get up, run after her.
    But he just sat there, holding that golden charm in his hand and telling himself, I have to do this…for her.
     
     
    From the hallway, Zoe stared at her mother.
    So far, Grace hadn’t noticed her.
    She was playing Scrabble with another one of the residents.
    “How has she been?”
    The nurse smiled at her and said, “Pretty good, actually. The doctor adjusted her medicine, like we discussed. I think it’s doing her a world of good.”
    Zoe nodded.
    Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out the phone numbers. “I’ve already spoken to the doctor and those who head up her care plan. But just in case, can you make sure these numbers are where they need to be? It’s who to contact if there’s a problem. James will know how to get in contact with me if there’s an emergency, but for standard things, he’s the one you’ll need to contact until I’m back in town. I’m taking some time, going away for a while.”
    She’d thought she’d feel guilty.
    But as she stood there, watching her mom, she realized she didn’t.
    Her mother actually looked happier now than she had in quite a while, and Zoe knew what would happen if she went over there. It would anger the other woman, distress her.  
    They weren’t any good for each other. They never really had been.
    Grace was happier not knowing her daughter than she ever had been knowing her.
    And Zoe was okay with that.

Chapter Eight
    One month turned into two.
    Two into four.
    Four into six.
    Each day, Chase swore he was dying a little more inside. Each day, he gave up a little more hope that she’d come back soon.
    He knew she called.
    His dad talked to her—his dad was acting as her mother’s guardian while Zoe was out of town.
    She called to ask about her mom, but she never called to talk to him.
    She called to check on her store—he knew this, because he’d asked Kelly and Kelly was more than happy to tell him that Zoe had spent a month in Alaska. Then she’d gone to the beach. Then Europe. All over the frickin’ globe, it seemed.  
    Kelly had postcards.
    Chase had the memory of one kiss, and the necklace she’d given him on prom night more sixteen years ago now, and a heart that was so beyond broken, it wasn’t even funny.
    Memories, a necklace…and a hope that was so faint, it couldn’t even be called a hope any more.
    She wasn’t going to come back here.
    And even if she did, it wouldn’t be because of him, he suspected. He’d been fooling himself. Yeah, he might still love her, but he’d killed whatever love she’d had for him years ago…sixteen years ago.  
    Pushing all of that aside, he stared into his dad’s darkened attic and tried to figure out why he’d agreed to this.
    Because his dad had asked, that was why.
    His dad wanted him to string up the Christmas lights.
    So that’s what he was