Fury’s eyes lock onto me.
Tension sparks through my arms, my legs, my chest. My heart.
The need to breathe the same air he does pulls me towards him.
I’ve almost reached him when his son yanks his hand from his father’s and takes off running. My eyes dart to Noah and then back to Fury. It all happens in a split second, in which I see Fury mouth, “Fuck,” with one last look at me before taking off after his son.
I stare after him, every limb shaky, my chest pounding with apprehension, and I know I have to get out of here.
I can’t do this.
Four years of heartache has been too high a price to pay for loving him. I won’t allow more of that pain.
Hurrying to my car, I throw myself in and drive as fast as I can towards safety. Safety from him.
I knew moving home to Sydney would be hard.
I spent months preparing for it.
I made plans for how I would survive him.
But none of anything I did readied me for the reality of it.
My body knows it, my mind knows it, and my heart knows it: Fury is a living, breathing part of my soul as much today as he was four years ago. And I have no idea how to cut him out.
“I like this one,” Holly says as we look around the fifth apartment for the day. It’s also the last one on my list, and I have to agree with her; it’s the one I like, too.
The real estate agent picks up on our enthusiasm and starts rattling off a long list of reasons why I should choose this one. I zone out, struggling to think of anything but Fury.
“Zara.” Holly hits me. “Thoughts?”
I blink and come back to the conversation, realising they’re both staring at me, waiting for a response. To what, I don’t know, but I nod. “I want this apartment.”
Holly narrows her eyes at me before saying to the agent, “Can you give us a minute?”
He nods and walks away, heading for the front door.
Holly drags me out onto the balcony. “Okay, spill. What the hell is going on with you? You’ve been distracted all afternoon, and I’m a little concerned you just agreed to rent an apartment you don’t even know for sure you want.”
I stare at the park the apartment looks out over. “I saw Fury.”
“Shit.” And then—“What happened?”
“Nothing. He had to chase after Noah. I didn’t hang around for a catch-up. Lynette wasn’t with him, so there was that at least.”
My phone sounds with a text and I quickly glance at it. I’m waiting to hear from my boss about work o
n Monday.
* * *
Angus: I just went to the apartment. All your stuff is gone. What’s going on?
* * *
“Fuck.” I look up at Holly. “It’s Angus.”
She pulls a pained face. “What does he want?”