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Chapter 23
"Faith…can I come in?"
"I just want to be alone."
Destiny frowned. "I know, darlin', but I need to talk to you."
"Can we talk later, Des?" Destiny heard a catch in her best friend's voice.
"I'm sorry, I just don't feel up to it right now."
Acting bravely, Destiny slowly opened Faith's door. A lump on the bed that Destiny assumed to be Faith didn't move.
"Faith?" Destiny called softly. "Honey, I'm so sorry…" Then she noticed the lump was shaking. "Oh…don't cry…"
"Oh, Des!" the lump cried. "I really loved him!"
Destiny sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed what she hoped was Faith's back under the blanket. "I know, babe. He loves you, too."
"No, he doesn't." Faith sniffed. "He wouldn't have been touching her."
Destiny had no excuse for that. "Love sucks, doesn't it?"
The lump didn't reply. Destiny lifted the blanket to see pain-filled, red eyes peering back at her. "Oh, Faith…" she sighed.
"You're so lucky to have Howie, Des. Hold on to him, no matter what."
Destiny nodded wordlessly. Her heart ached for her friend. She didn't deserve this kind of treatment from Brian, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became at him for doing this to her best friend.
"I need to be alone, Destiny," Faith said again. Destiny nodded and stood up. She left the room to Faith's sobbing, cringing.
She walked downstairs and stopped short when she saw Howie sitting at the kitchen table.
"How'd you get in?" she asked, leaning against his back.
"I have my ways," he replied. "How is she?"
"Not good." Destiny closed her eyes and hugged his upper body tightly. He reached a hand up and patted her shoulder.
"Brian's not good either," he said. Destiny's head snapped up.
"It's his fault," she said angrily, her eyes flashing.
"Hey," Howie said softly. "Leighanne just happened to arrive at the wrong time. And Brian feels horrible, believe me. He does love her."
"He should have gone after her!"
"Leighanne was there," he reminded her.
"So what!" she exclaimed, tears collecting. "If he really loved Faith, he wouldn't let Leighanne stand in the way."
"I know," he admitted, giving up. "But he does love her, Des. I know it. He's so happy when she's around. He's just working his way to letting Leigh down gently. He's like that. He doesn't want to hurt anyone."
"Leigh?" Destiny repeated.
"Leighanne," he mumbled. She smiled.
"Howie, I'm sorry," she apologized. "I just love Faith so much and it hurts to see her hurt because of a guy nonetheless."
"I know, babe," he said. "I understand. I'll talk to Brian."
"Why is he afraid of Leighanne?" she asked.
"Like I said, he's afraid of hurting someone. That's why he feels terrible, because he hurt Faith so bad."
"If only they could talk," Destiny commented sadly. Howie nodded and turned around in his seat. He kissed Destiny's cheek and wrapped an arm around her. She leaned her head on his chest and stared at the floor. Neither of them noticed Faith slip past them and exit through the back door.
She walked slowly, thinking of everything that Brian had told her. Everything that he promised her; every time he kissed her. She shook head regretfully and sat down on the sand of the beach. She pulled her knees to her chest and laid her arms across them. Her head rested on her arms and tears slowly dripped onto the sand.
Brian hesitated behind Faith, unsure of his next move. He watched her for a minute, a dull ache in his stomach bringing tears to his eyes. Suddenly Faith spoke.
"Brian…" she murmured. He took a step forward, wanting to touch her and tell her everything would be okay, that he was there, that he loved her…so many things… "You promised, Brian," she whispered. He inhaled sharply, silently, and lifted his face to the heavens. What had he done? "You said you'd never leave me. But you did. And I should be mad, but I can't be. Because I miss you too much." She let out an anguished sob. The agony in her voice was too much to take. Brian spun and ran.
Faith looked up, sure she had heard something. The ocean was deadly calm and the air thick. She wiped her eyes dry and tried to breathe normally. "Brian," she said again. "I love you."
"I'll always be with you, Faith," Brian swore.
"I thought you were a man of your word, Brian," she said brokenly. "You broke your promise."
"How could you?" she whispered. "I'll never love again."
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