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This one was harder to admit because it brought up memories of everything that happened after she showed up.“Yes.”
Sympathy and understanding filled her eyes.“That’s when he ended it, wasn’t it?”she asked, her voice now soft.“That’s why you left suddenly.”
I nodded.
She sat back in her chair and shook her head.“I can’t believe I didn’t see it.”
“You were busy with your internship for most of it.”
She was still staring vacantly to the side, and I could practically see her replaying the last month in her head with this new information.
“Do you hate me?”I whispered.I had to ask.I had to know where I stood with her.I’d already lost Travis.I didn’t think I could stand losing her too.
Her attention focused on me, and she shook her head sadly.“I could never hate you.I’m mad that you guys kept me in the dark, and personally I think it’s a little gross cause he’s my dad.But,”—she cocked her head back and forth—“I can also kind of see it.You two have a lot of the same interests.You’ve never had good experiences with guys our age, so it makes sense that you’d click with an older guy.Despite the fact that he clearly broke your heart, I’d say he’s a good guy and you deserve one of those.So, no, I don’t hate you.I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about everything, though.I’m gonna need a little more time to process it all.I think what bothers me the most is that you lied about it.”
“I know.I’m so sorry.I just…I’ve liked him for so long and I knew you’d never approve.I guess I just wanted what I knew I wasn’t supposed to have.”
She stared at me, her eyes holding a mixture of emotions—sadness, hurt, confusion—but she didn’t correct my assumption that she wouldn’t be okay with it.Even now, I knew she wasn’t okay with it.
“Am I going to lose you?Because I don’t think I can lose you too.”My voice broke and a tear slipped freely down my cheek.She leaned forward, putting her hand out palm up on the table, and I immediately grabbed it with mine.
“You’re not going to lose me.You’re stuck with me for life, remember?Ride or die, to the grave.”
I gave her a watery nod, and we sat in the silence for a while.She occasionally asked questions while we finished our coffee, but she could see how much I was hurting, so she asked about other things like work, or if my brother’s fiancée could get us tickets to an LA Wolves game since she was one of the coaches.
Eventually, we parted ways with a tight hug, and I could breathe a little easier knowing I still had her.My heart was broken, but the world didn’t end.
I could move on from this.
Maybe if I kept saying it, I’d believe it.
On my way home, I stopped by the store to pick up some groceries because it was time to pull myself together as best I could and get back to normal—whatever that was now—and my kitchen cabinets were painfully bare.I was standing in front of the avocados, wondering if they were worth the purchase or if they’d ripen and go bad before I ever had a chance to eat them, when a male voice from beside me pulled my attention up.
“Sadie?”
My mouth gaped in surprise.“Josh.Hey.”It felt like so much had happened since the night he stood me up.
He smiled and he was just as handsome as I remembered from his pictures, but he didn’t make my whole body light up like Travis did.There was no flutter in my chest or tightening of my stomach from desire.
“I thought that was you.You’re way more beautiful than your pictures, and you were already stunningly gorgeous in those.”He kept his gaze focused on my face like he couldn’t look away to save his life.“My schedule has lightened up with this new rotation I’m on.I’d love to take you out for real sometime and cash in that rain check.I know you blew me off when I texted you after that night, but I’d really like to make it up to you.”
I nibbled my lip, unsure.I was still nursing a broken heart, but maybe this was for the best.I couldn’t be with Travis, so there was no point in holding on to a dream that would only ever be just that—a dream.Josh wasn’t going to be the love of my life, but he could get me out of the house and serve as a distraction for a few hours.
There were worse reasons to go out with an attractive doctor.
So I agreed, even as the thought of going on a date with anyone besides Travis felt like a betrayal.“Sure.I’d like that.”
“Are you free tomorrow night?There’s a great restaurant in Beverly Hills I’ve been dying to try.I’d love to take you.”
I nodded and we finalized the details.As much as my insides protested the date, I reminded myself that this was for the best.
I needed to be realistic, and it was time to let Travis go.
Once and for all.
Don’t try to figure out your life while drunk
TRAVIS
