Page 117 of The Girl with No Name

“I don’t want to be with someone who associates with him,” she says as she takes off my sweatpants and gets into the denim shorts she was wearing on Friday. “How do you even know him?”

“We went to college together.”

“He’s the worst. If you’re anything like him…”

“Luna.” I take her hands. “Look at me.”

She averts her eyes for a moment before she gazes into mine, finally. I see pain. I see suffering. I see the manipulation he put her through.

“I love you. That wasn’t bullshit. I’m not like him.”

“How can I trust you? How do I know this is real?”

“You want the honest truth?”

“Duh.”

“You can’t know for sure. But I’m not lying to you. Do you really think I’ve faked this?”

Her eyes fill with tears. “No.”

“This is how life is. There’s a time to trust and a time to doubt. A time to love and a time to let go. And I think we both know what this time is for the two of us.”

“But I wanted to leave my past behind.Completely.” She steadies her breath. “This is too crazy.”

“I’m not surprised, though, that there would be one more connection like this. It’s like the stars are confirming how much we want this. I want this. Do you?”

She closes her eyes for a moment before she finally says, “Yes.”

“So let’s do it. Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“To Nashville. Like you said.”

“Right now?!”

“No time like the present. I know what I want. I don’t want to wait anymore. Let’s get out of here.”

Her eyes open, and she searches mine, probably looking for any sign of doubt. “You’re sure?”

“I’ve never been so sure of anything.”

She takes a deep breath and blows it out. “Then let’s go.”

“Let’s get your van.”

“What about your car?”

I shrug. “I’ll leave it here for now. It can stay parked on the street.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but all right. I trust you.”

We slip out the back without another word to Mason. I drive Luna out to her van, which is parked on the street in a different part of the city now.

“I’m going to start packing,” I tell her as she gets out. “Come get me in about an hour? I’ll come outside so you don’t have to come back in. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”