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"What?"

"Ash is upset but not with ht I’d cheated on her was her first reaction It has always been the three of us She didn’t think about going to anyone else She just figured you would kno to fix it You always did fix theyou now that if you sowhen you walk in that house and hear what she has to tell you, that I will take you down She got upset She acted on instinct What happened as a repercussion isn’t her fault"

"What in the hell are you getting at Beau?" I asked, starting to feel anxious as I pushed past hi in the kitchen with swollen red eyes and chewing on her botto with the two of you?" I asked in confusion "I’m just here for Lana Whatever other problems y’all have, I’m out Fix them yourselves"

"Ohnoohnoohno," Ashton startedHer worried eyes lifted to look at Beau for help

"Just give it to hiently

"Give me what?" I de froht hand

I walked over to her and snatched the paper out of her grasp Perfectly scripted handwriting covered the page in what appeared to be a letter Dropping nature stood out atNononononono, please God no, I begged silently as I began reading

Ashton,

Let , thank you I needed an escape this summer from the craziness that is my life You helped make that possible I needed to talk about my dad and how I felt and you were there forsomeone cared was ined

But, Imy heart up to someone who clearly could never feel the same about me I kneyer loved you I’ve known it since ere kids I thoughthis attention for a short tirown up with two parents who never once thought aboutthey concerned themselves with and maybe that is my fault because I didn’t speak up I just pushed the hurt and anger deep insidebecause I knew they eak I’ second best I need so in Grove isn’t a possible option for me I let myself hope for too much I’ve been broken too many times I can’t stay somewhere near someone ill eventually destroy me

Please tell your parents thank you for oodbyes and explanations but I think you understand why I had to go You had the right Vincent boy all along Don’t take hiranted this time He loves you in a way that I hope to one day inspire in soive up the world for you When you have someone that special, that incredible who loves you, don’t let it go This is your second chance to treasure what you’ve had all your life Saas always the Vincent boy worth fighting for He’s the special one

Love,

Lana

"She doesn’t say where she went? Did she go ho to throw up Tears stung my eyes and I sed the lump in my throat I didn’t have time to cry like a da the paper neatly, I stuck it in my pocket and pulled out ht to voiceher? Have you called her ain

"Don’t raise your voice at her I know you’re upset but re And for the record you’re not all that da that out there"

I didn’t give a rat’s ass about Beau’s warning I needed to find Lana "I’laring at hiainst the brick fireplace The pain wasn’t enough to nuony inBeau, do so down a tunnel

"WHERE IS SHE?" I roared, beatingmy vision I had to find her She neededboth ainst the brick, I dropped my head and let the tears roll freely I’d lost her I couldn’t lose her She was so broken and I didn’t even knoanted to find her dumbass father and beat his face in until the ache inside me, from her words in that letter, eased How could they overlook her? How could anyone overlook her?

"Sawyer, we’ll find her," Ashton said as a s I can’t stand this Do soive us a minute, Ash?" Beau replied

I heard Beau whisper to Ashton and kiss her before her footsteps faded down the hall

"Man, you’ve got to get a fucking grip You’re losing it and that shit ain’t gonna help nothing Plus you’ve got Ash in tears"

He had no right to tellto help him

I pushed myself off the wall and walked ahile I wiped the proof of et it You love her I know that feeling real well But crying like a fucking pussy ain’t gonna do one bit of good We have to find her It takes big boys to do that Think you can dry up the well and help h?"

I froze and dropped my hands toaround I stared at him, "Did you just say, ‘I love her’?"

Beau rolled his eyes and crossed his arainst the doorfraotta ask est idiot on the planet "LetWhen you lost Ash did you cry? I knoe beat each other up and you did a lot of yelling But did you cry?"

"No"

Beau nodded, "Did you want to? Or were you just ht back to those weeks after our breakup I didn’t re back tears Not once

"No"

"Didn’t think so ‘Cause although you loved Ash, she wasn’t the one When you fall for the one that owns you, she’ll be the only one that has the power to make you cry"