YOU RETURN A TEXT.
I’M NOT DEAD& I’M
SORRY FOR WORRYING
YOU. I’M JUST TRYING
TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.
She hit Send, surprised at the emotions barreling through her as she waited for a response. Her feelings were in direct conflict with her decision to move on.
Harley didn’t know how to do long-term. She couldn’t even commit to a to-go order. Who knew what they wanted before standing at the cash register? Sadly, she knew she wanted Bryan the moment they met. Only he wanted things she couldn’t give him. Things she didn’t even know how to give—commitment, permanence, and the kind of relationship that went the distance.
All those things conflicted with hertake life as it comesphilosophy. Fear and uncertainty consumed her. She didn’t want to let go of Bryan. Yet no matter how many times her head told her it was “time’s up,” her heart kept delaying the inevitable.
PEOPLE PAY ME A LOT
OF MONEY TO FIGURE
THINGS OUT.
I’LL GIVE YOU THE
FAMILY DISCOUNT.
Something deep inside twisted painfully at the wordfamily. She was barely managing to be a part of her own family; there was zero chance she could handle being a part of his family. No matter how much she wanted to. Three brothers, two sisters, and parents who’d been married for forty years. Nowhere in that equation was there room for a frequent flyer of a girlfriend who had unlimited miles and a rule against round-trip relationships.
ITOLD YOU WHENI
LEFT, DON’T WAIT
FOR ME. YOU DO YOU
WHILEIDO ME.
CAN YOU AT LEAST TELL
ME WHERE YOU ARE?
I’M AT HOME.
FUNNY, YOU NEVER
MENTIONED WHERE HOME
WAS. JUST THAT YOU
GREW UP ON THE ROAD
WITH YOUR DAD. IALSO
DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD A
NONNA. OR A HOME WITHIN
DRIVING DISTANCE.
She had grown up on the road. Zero permanence. Zero commitments. Zero heartache. But her heart was aching now. Which was the only reason she could come up with for why she was throwing out mixed signals.
