Chapter 30: Unshakable Truths

I walk down the steps on the side of the mansion and into the garden. Stone statues are scattered throughout the maze of blooms as I stroll alone, lost in thought. There was always a possibility of Saz and Zelia riding off into the sunset together. Why would that even be a surprise? The Long Island iced tea runs cool down my throat and I grip the glass, grounding myself in the clink of the melting ice cubes. The heat must be getting to me. I spot a stone bench under a shady tree a few steps away and walk forward. A few minutes in the shade should calm me down a little.

The stone feels cool on my shoulders as I lean back and take another sip of my drink. My mind drifts back to the night Saz stood on my doorstep, those sad, puppy dog eyes etched in my memory. How fitting that, after wanting to apologize so badly, he hasn’t brought it up since. It probably hurt his pride to have the door slammed in his face by his assistant. His “right-hand gal.”