Page 25 of Shattered Hearts

Shaking my head, I want her to leave before I burst into tears. She warily trudges back into the bookstore. Grabbing my phone once again, I duck behind the side of the brick building, trying to hide from the rest of the world, and pull up his number. The dial tone rings in my ear for ages, but he doesn’t pick up.

I try again.

And again.

On the fifth attempt, I leave a shaky voicemail, asking Scott to please return my call because I have something important to tell him.

Shutting off my phone, I lean against the cold exposed wall, feeling the chill seep through my clothes, penetrating my skin. A familiar figure comes into my periphery. Red hair, shorter body. Macie swoops me into her arms, and I let go of the tears I’ve been fighting back.

“What’s happened?”

My head shakes, and Macie continues holding me until I break apart like a cracked egg, spilling everything. “He hasn’t messaged me back.” I suck in a wobbly breath, the air searing my throat. “He hasn’t called me. He doesn’t want anything to do with me. He doesn’t—”

He doesn’t want anything to do with his child is what I try to say, but the words die in my mouth.

Macie doesn’t say anything, and she doesn’t need to. Aware of who I’m referring to, her hand rubs circles on my back as I bawl into her shoulder.

“Why won’t he respond to me?” The words come out as a croak.

I want to scream, kick the wall as hard as I can and throw my phone on the ground, smashing it to pieces. What’s the point of having it if he won’t answer me?

My voice comes out as a rushed whisper, “I need his help, Mace. I don’t think I can do this alone. It’s too much.”

“He will,” she replies. Despite trying to sound optimistic, I hear the waver in her tone, causing my insides to twist even tighter, like a wrench is being wound. “It’ll all be fine, L.”

“But how do you know that?” I cough out, eyes searching her face. Macie just blinks at me, her lips parting like she wants to say something, but nothing comes out.

My chest caves in once again, and I fall against her, needing to feel her embrace. It’s as warm and secure as I need it to be, with her hand stroking my back gently.

I hear her murmur, “Because it will be. You just have to trust me on this. It’ll all work out.”

Trust is hard, though. I’m not like Macie where her parents and aunt left her and Axel high and dry. My parents have never left. This is the first time they’ve been away from home without me for more than a weekend. I shouldn’t lack trust, because I’ve always had people on my side, but there’s something unexplainable in me that is sceptical right now. Like a piece of my heart is aware that I will be doing this alone, and that’s what petrifies me to literal blubbering tears.

“Laynie, I know this is a lot for you, and you are worried about Scott and the baby, but I think there’s someone who can help you so much more, and you need to tell them.”

Thump, thump, thump.

My heart almost leaps out of my ribs as I feel the rise of bile in my throat. Uncomfortable tingles rush up my sides as I shake my head against her neck that’s wet from my tears.

How am I meant to tell him? I’ll be shattering the string between us. The one that I have believed for years that will bring us together. But it hasn’t so far, and it’s been almost nine years. What if I was wrong? What if Grayson and I were only destined to be friends? And all we ever will be is friends?

My spiraling abruptly stops when Macie murmurs, “Your mum will know what to do.”

Right. My mum. She was talking about my mum, not Grayson. Why would she think about Grayson right now?

“After what she went through, who else would be better to help you through this?” Pushing me away, her hands rest on my shoulders as I fight to keep my crying in check. Macie’s lips curl into the most warmhearted smile, and I feel my mouth twitch. “I think you should call her and tell her.”

I know she’s right. I do need my mum. She’s the one who might understand my situation, given everything in her past.

Reaching out, I squeeze Macie’s hand tightly in response. My eyes grow heavy as I take a deep breath; my lungs feel like they have splinters in them. Macie nods slowly, her eyes unmoving from mine as I stare down at them.

“You can do this, Laynie.”

Sucking in another sharp breath, I shake my head, my hands trembling involuntarily. Macie grabs them, tightening her grip to remind me that I’m not alone.

“I can’t,” I breathe out, sniffing before my nose starts to run. “I can’t do it.”

“Yes, you can,” she repeats, louder this time. “She’ll understand and will drop everything to be there for you.”