Page 167 of Colliding with Ten

“I am on your side. Hill and I fought for you to come back.”

“You weren’t. Not when it counted.”

Several feet of cold air separated us. He opened his mouth like he was about to say something else, but I didn’t wait to hear it.

“I have to go,” I said.

“Ayla, come on⁠—”

“I’ll see you later.”

I shouldered my bag higher, turned, and walked toward the parking lot. My legs shook beneath me. Tears were coming. I felt them building behind my eyes like pressure in a storm, but I was not going to cry. I’d had enough of useless tears. Today, I had been the person who loved him enough to tell him my truth. But after how the conversation went, I wasn’t sure if I could bring this back.

Behind the wheel, I gripped it until my knuckles turned white. I was angry at the mess that started with a quarterback running into me on a football field and ended with me parenting my older brother in a parking lot.

The phone vibrated in the cupholder, and it was a text from Lennox. We had stayed in contact, but it wasn’t the same anymore. At first, he checked whether I had landed safely, then checked again to make sure the hotel was comfortable. This was the third time.

Lennox

Did you talk to AJ?

I smiled sadly.

Ayla

No

We argued

Why?

Lennox

I know how much you miss your brother.

I was hoping you’d tell me it went well.

My chest contracted. God, I loved how much this man was rooting for me.

Lennox

Do you think you’ll work it out?

I frowned at the screen.

Ayla

I’m hoping soon.

Three dots appeared, disappeared, then came back again.

Lennox

I’m sorry it’s not going well.

I want to come to NY and speak to him. I just need him to know a few things.

I stared at the last message.