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I cringe. “It was… I didn’t mean to.”
“You didn’t mean to slam me into B4 and embarrass me?”
I pull my bottom lip into my mouth as more guilt piles on top of me. “You have every right to hate me.”
“Why would you hurt me like that? What did I ever do to you?”
“I wish I could explain.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “The truth is… I’m not good at making friends. Back home, I-I didn’t have many.”
“Why?”
I swallow hard. “Something bad happened to my family when I was little. It was my fault.” I push Jenna’s face out of my head. Push the image of the boy I met that day even further. “It made it hard for me to connect with people. I’m always afraid that I’ll ruin their lives.” I inhale deeply. “I don’t want to ruin your life, Catherine. I just want to make up for my mistakes.”
The door swings open.
Catherine stands there—face flushed and her eyes red and puffy.
She’s holding a crumpled tissue paper in her tight grip.
“Please forgive me.”
“Don’t ever do that again.”
“I won’t.”
She steps forward and wraps her arms around me.
I glance up in surprise.
She pats my back. “And whatever happened with your family, I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.” Her chin rests in the slope of my shoulder. “You’re my best friend, Shanel. You made me feel right at home my first day. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that you’re kind and strong.” She leans back. “You don’t ruin lives. You make them better.”
Her words hit me right in the chest.
Tears blur my vision, and I blink rapidly, holding them back with all my might. She smiles, a big, gorgeous smile full of friendship and forgiveness.
I realize, in that moment, why Catherine is the main character of the movie.
It’s not because she’s stunning.
Not because she’s a poor kid and matching her with the billionaire bad boy is fun to watch.
It’s because she’s a genuinely good person that people can’t help rooting for.
I’m not that.
I’m flawed.
Messed up.
A failure.
And that’s why I can’t be the lead.
“I’ll put you back where you belong.” I squeeze her hand. “I promise.”
She scrunches her button nose in confusion.
I link my arm with hers. “Catherine, how do you feel about leaving the basement and moving in with me?”
