Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 187

Steve's smile instantly froze. He looked at me, thrown off. "Why are you asking about that?"

"I just want to visit," I said.

He studied me for a moment, a mix of confusion and concern in his eyes.

was sure Steve had

I didn't explain further or mention that Jace had been involved in Desmond's death. I was no idea if he did, he would've cut Jace off a long time ago. "Did something happen?" Steve asked, his voice tinged with worry.

I didn't answer directly. "Just take me there."

Seeing that I wasn't going to explain more, Steve sighed and nodded. He agreed to take me to Desmond's grave, though I could tell he was still wary.

When we got to the cemetery, we saw Desmond's parents standing by his grave. Even from a distance, we could hear his mom's heart-wrenching sobs, mixed with angry curses.

I couldn't make out who she was cursing, but I could guess-Tanya.

to approach them, so Steve and I hung back, waiting until they

had his arm wrapped around

her sobs hitting me like a

their whole world had crumbled, and all that

them go and sighed. "Desmond

and I couldn't

go through this? He hadn't chosen to die-he'd been crushed by the betrayal, by the weight of it all. That's what

the flowers in my hand and walked up the path toward Desmond's

like he always had-bright, carefree, the kind

had been a pain no one should have to carry. The kind of betrayal that shatters a person. I could almost picture the moment when everything he thought he knew came crashing down. "Desmond, how you doing over there?" Steve called out "Got any pool tables where you're at? Still

stayed silent, unable to find the right words. Nothing I could say

glancing at me when he noticed I wasn't speaking. To fill the silence, he

+25 BONUS

Chapter 187

when you could come to Keira and Jace's wedding. Well, no need to ask

there, staring at Desmond's grave, feeling the weight

bright smile in Desmond's photo seemed to shift-first into sadness, then anger. A deep, burning anger