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I prop a pillow in the back of my head and glance at the ceiling fan moving slowly.
“I’m the one who told Atlas where you were.”
I frown. “What?”
“He told me he wanted to be with you and that he loves you. If you hear him out, you will understand his reasoning for breaking up with you.”
“I thought you were on my side.”
“I am. That’s why I said you need to hear him out. You have a problem, Lake.”
I sit up and stroke the back of my neck. “What do you mean?”
“You like to hold grudges.”
“It’s not your place to say that.”
“No, it’s not, but I wouldn’t be a friend if I didn’t tell you the truth. Lake, you have someone who has willingly gone to great lengths to be with you. The guy rented a house next door to you. It’s clear he loves you.”
There is an awkward silence as I try to process everything she just said. It doesn’t take away the fact that she betrayed me, and I’m mad at her, but I know I’ll get over it. And maybe she is right, and I do hold grudges, but I do it to protect myself from getting hurt.
“Please don’t be mad at me, I’m looking out for you.”
“I know, but I’m still mad.”
“I have something else to say.” She laughs nervously. “Don’t allow heartache to stop you from being happy. He’s going to disappoint you, and that’s going to happen in any relationship, but do you want to live your life with regret? You should listen to him.”
“I need time to heal, and time to love myself. I can’t do that if he’s hovering over me.”
“You don’t have to be fully healed for someone to love you. You don’t have to be whole. Even broken people deserve love, Lake. I’m not saying you’re broken. I love you, Lake, I really do, but please hear him out, and if you don’t like what he has to say, then tell him you want to keep it platonic. Atlas is a good guy. He’s arrogant and selfish. You’re stubborn and selfish. You two are the perfect match.”
“If I were near you, I would toss a pillow at your head.”
“If I were near you, I would hug you. I miss you so much. Are you coming home next month like you planned?”
I shrug my shoulders as if she can see me. “I want the gossip to die down first.”
“It will before Christmas. Usually around the holidays, people tend to move on because they are focused on their families.” Silence falls between us, then she says, “You can’t allow yourself to fully heal if you don’t learn to forgive.”
“It’s easier said than done,” I say.
“You don’t have to do it right now, take it one day at a time. You don’t want to miss out on love because of a few bad apples.”
“I’ll think about it.” I press the End button.
Atlas
I don’t run with Lake this morning, because I’m working on this new project for her. Hopefully, she likes it. I spend all morning coming up with a business plan to help her career. I make a new bank account so I’ll be her first investor, then I set up a meeting with Zane and a few other fashion magazines to see if they will look at her work and feature them in a catalog. I draw up contracts with a manufacturer to produce her design, and when we get back home, I can find a Realtor to sell me a building so she can have a physical store. This will be my Christmas gift to her. Hopefully, she’ll take me back and I won’t be in the doghouse for too long. I grab my phone from my pocket and see a message from Lake.
Boots: Are you okay? You weren’t here to run with me this morning.
Me: Were you worried about me?
Boots: Making sure you’re alive over there.
Me: Give me five minutes of your time.
Boots: No.
