When You Were Mine (Stone Lake 2)

“Yeah,” he says, and I do my best to ignore the chill that runs down my back.

“No leads?”

“Actually, I saw the vehicle drive away.”

“Can we search the DMV for those models and try and find out who it belonged to?” I’m a little excited because we might actually have a lead. Of course, not on Elaine’s murder or even Skylar’s, but I don’t like that someone has me or my son on their radar.

“No need, I got a partial tag. The vehicle belonged to the parents of one Darren Oakes.”

My mouth drops. “Darren Oakes?”

“None other.”

“Did you question him?”

“Kingston and I drove out there, but no one was around. Oakes showed up later though, all on his own. I don’t think he was driving the vehicle… It could have been his nephew.”

“Why would his nephew do it?”

“Hell if I know anymore, Luna. Maybe Oakes paid him? Shit, lately this whole case makes me feel like I’m running nowhere fast. The only thing I truly know is Oakes is not a good guy, I just don’t know how deep that goes.”

“Wow. I had hoped…”

“What?” Gavin asks, when I don’t finish.

“Nothing, it’s just… I never truly felt Darren killed Jules all those years ago. I had hoped him getting out would mean he would do his best to stay out of trouble.”

“Maybe he just had you fooled back then.”

“Maybe,” I respond with a sigh. “I can’t say he didn’t. The whole mess, makes me sad.”

“It’s funny,” Gavin says.

“What is?”

“For almost thirteen years I’ve wanted to call you at night and talk to you, wanted to hear your voice before I went to sleep,” he says softly.

It feels like there’s a hand holding my heart and it’s squeezing it’s so tight the pain runs through my veins.

“Gavin,” I whisper, not sure what else to say.

“It’s better than I imagined it would be, Luna. God, Moonbeam. I have missed having you in my life.” His words undo me. I close my eyes against their sweetness, I shudder against the bittersweet pain.

“I’ve missed you too, Gavin,” I tell him, my voice barely more than a breath.

“Sweet dreams, Moonbeam,” he says and the phone clicks as he hangs up.

I lay there in the dark, holding my phone and wishing for impossible dreams…

Luna

“Did you thank Wally for this?” I ask Meghan taking another drink of my margarita.

Meghan and I always try to do what we call ladies night at least once a month. I need it more right now than I have ever needed it in my life. With Elaine’s shut down, we’re in the bar of the only decent hotel just outside of town. It wouldn’t be my first choice—but it’s the only choice there is.

“No, but he’ll get semi-drunk sex tonight, so he’s not going to complain,” she says, laughing.

“Only semi-drunk? I was hoping to get hammered,” I mumble, thinking there’s not enough alcohol in Stone Lake to help me forget about the mess that has become my life.

“You can. I on the other hand, want to be alert enough to call our taxi and mostly quiet when I get home so that semi-drunk sex is semi-quiet and doesn’t scar the two kids upstairs playing video games.”

“Josh seemed okay, right?”

“Quit worrying, Luna. I promise you, Josh and Levi were laughing and eating hotdogs and planning their night when I left. Wally will watch them like a hawk. It will be okay.”

“I know, I guess I just worry…”

“There’s no need. They’re fine. I promise. You can call and check on them, if you want.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just a spazz.”

“You’re allowed, you’ve been going through a lot of shit lately,” Meghan says and God, if that doesn’t feel like an understatement.

“What am I going to do, Meg? Ben is upset with me, and he should be. I’m hurting him, but I don’t know how to stop. Gavin has called two nights straight now and he’s being so sweet that if I let myself, I could forget about all the crap that’s between us.”

“You sound way too miserable for having two hot guys fighting over you.”

“Yeah, that definitely sounds like more fun than it is. And, I would hardly call it fighting. Ben isn’t even talking to me at the moment.”

“To be fair, he told you to come find him when you got your head straightened out.”

“I know… I’m just not sure that’s something I’m capable of doing.”

“Do you still have feelings for Gavin?” she asks and just the question alone fills me with fear and nerves.

“I’ll probably always have feelings for Gavin, Meg. He’s the father of my child, my first lover, and probably the only man I’ve truly allowed myself to love.”

“Thirteen years is a long time, and given what you’ve gone through, Luna, it’s a lot to be able to say that you’ll always love someone. Other women in your shoes would probably hate him.”