Seven Times They Chose Him. The Last Time, They Lost Me novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Hearts for Dylan

The church hall had three hundred folding chairs and a banner over the stage that read HEARTS FOR DYLAN in red letters.

Balloons were tied to every table, and there was a screen on the wall running a slideshow.

I watched it from the side door in a borrowed collared shirt, with my cast in a clean sling.

There were photos of Dylan in a hospital bed at age six, with a stuffed bear.

There were photos of Dylan in a Santa hat.

There were photos of my parents holding his hands, looking tired and brave.

There were two photos of me.

In one I stood at the edge of a group shot, half cut off by the frame.

In the other I held a plate at a cookout, and I was looking at something outside the picture.

"They found two," Aunt Dot said, beside me, very quietly. "In eight years."

"It's okay."

"It is not okay. But I'm glad you're here anyway."

She had come in her good black jacket, with her braid pinned up.

Polly's mother was at the back with Polly, because Polly had asked to come and had refused to explain why.

"For the cause," Polly had said, and looked grim.

I found Dylan by the stage steps.

He'd been discharged on Friday, and my mother had dressed him in a vest and a tie.

He looked small and pale in them.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi."

He looked past me at the crowd, then at me, then he whispered, "Did you read it?"

"Yes."

"Okay." He looked so relieved he swayed. "Later. After. I'll find you."

Then Mom came up behind us with her hand on his back, steering him away.

The dinner was chicken and green beans.

I sat at the family table between my father and an empty chair that was supposed to be Dylan's, and a woman I didn't know leaned across to tell me how brave I was.

"I'm not doing anything," I said.

← Chapter 6 · All chapters · Chapter 8 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend