Forbidden Serenade: Final Notes (Book 3)

Chapter Fifteen

I sat on the couch in my living room, staring at my passport. It arrived in the mail today. My house was full of noise from my children. Sam and Millie were making ice cream sundaes in the kitchen. Lilly was blasting music in her room. It was a band I didn't know. She didn't listen to Drenched Uprising anymore.

My phone had been silent for days. Apparently Elijah had given up. I stared at the last remaining piece of our relationship. A reminder of what could have been. It slipped through my fingers just as the passport did as I dropped it to the floor. It gave a light thump as it hit the ground.

Why wasn't I getting over this? Tomorrow would be four weeks since I broke up with him. Why was I so stuck on Elijah Wyatt? I couldn't forget him. I couldn't move on. Instead of healing, my heart bled a bit more each day. How much life did it have left?

My phone dinged, and I scrambled to pick it up beside me to look at the name. My heart hoped for Elijah, but it was James instead.

Remind Sam he has practice tomorrow after school.

I sighed and typed back a message. Will do.

Standing up, I dropped my phone back on the couch and strolled into the kitchen. Sam and Millie built massive sundaes, trying to outdo one another as they explained their process. I truly felt blessed to be their mother. They were amazing, and I couldn't imagine my life without them. Did that mean I had to sacrifice everything for them? Would I truly lose them if I chose Elijah?

"Hey Sam," I said as they finished up and sat down to eat. "Your dad wanted me to remind you about practice tomorrow. What sport are you doing?"

Sam paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth. He looked down at his bowl as he lowered his spoon back to it. "I don't want to."

I stepped closer to hear him better. "You don't want to play any sports?"

He shook his head and mumbled his answer. "I hate sports. Dad wants me to play them and be like him, but I hate them."

I frowned. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."

Dropping his spoon into his bowl, he pushed the very thing that moments ago brought him so much joy. "You tell him that. He won't listen to me. He says I'm an idiot and a girl."

I strode over to him and ruffled his hair. "You're neither of those things. I'll talk to him. He shouldn't speak that way."

Sam shot to his feet. "Why not? I am. Everyone hates me at school. I don't fit in. I'm not strong and good at sports like dad or other boys. I'm a stupid loser."

"You're none of those things, sweetie. You're smart and an amazing kid." My brows furrowed together. "And what about Ryan? I thought he was your friend?"

Sam rolled his eyes. "He was until he hacked into my account and stole all the money and items I had on my game. It was some stupid bet he had with his real friends of how long it would take him to steal my stuff. He didn't like me."

"Oh Sam." I reached out to hug him, but he pushed my hands away and stepped back.

"Stop feeling sorry for me! Everyone does that!" He scowled, but his bottom lip trembled. "I don't want people to feel sorry for me. I just want everyone to leave me alone."

"Sam."

He stomped his foot. "I'm not playing sports! The guys all beat me up and make fun of me because I make them lose games!"

I put my hands up to calm him. "Okay. I'll talk to your dad."

His face dropped as his voice turned to pleading. "Can I just live here? With you? Why do I have to go back to his house?"