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I shook my head miserably. “No. I guess we were both too dang stubborn and prideful. It was easier to just pretend it never happened than to face what it all meant.”
Laney leaned forward, her expression serious. “Paisley, I’m gonna give it to you straight. It sounds like you’ve been runnin’ from your feelings for Adam for a long time now. And I get it, truly I do. Openin’ your heart up again after it’s been broken...it’s scary as all get-out.”
I nodded, blinking back tears. She was hitting the nail right on the head.
“But, take it from someone who wasted years denyin’ what was right in front of her...” Laney glanced meaningfully at the wedding band glinting on her finger. “Life’s too short not to take a chance on love. When you find somethin’ real, somethin’ worth fightin’ for...you gotta grab onto it with both hands and never let go.”
“Laney’s right,” Aubree chimed in. “I know you’re scared of gettin’ hurt again. But Paisley, I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you when he thinks no one’s watchin’. Like you hung the dang moon.”
“He’s never looked at anyone the way he looks at you,” Dakota added softly. “Not in all the years I’ve known him.”
I let their words wash over me, hope and fear warring in my chest. Could they be right? Could Adam still have feelings for me, even after everything?
“I think...” I took a shaky breath. “I think maybe I need to talk to him. Clear the air once and for all, lay all my cards on the table. Even if he doesn’t feel the same way...at least I’ll know.”
“Atta girl,” Rory said with an approving nod. “Honest communication, that’s the ticket.”
“Just...be prepared,” Laney cautioned. “This kinda conversation, it ain’t gonna be easy. You gotta be willin’ to own up to your part in the mess y’all have made. To apologize for the hurt you’ve caused, even if it wasn’t intentional.”
I winced, knowing she was right. I’d spent so long blaming Adam, blaming circumstances...but the truth was, I’d played a role in the distance between us too. If I wanted to fix this, really fix it, I needed to woman up and admit that.
“Adam’s a good man,” Aubree said quietly. “He’s got a strong sense of honor and duty. I truly believe that if you’re honest with him, if you make it clear you want to make things right...he’ll meet you halfway.”
“And if he doesn’t, I’ll kick his stubborn butt into next week,” Dakota declared, only half-joking.
Aubree shot her a look. “And they’ll never find the body,” she said under her breath.
A tense beat of silence followed her ominous words...and then we all burst out laughing, the heaviness of the moment temporarily lifted.
“I appreciate the offer,” I said wryly once I’d caught my breath. “But I think this is somethin’ Adam and I need to sort out ourselves. No murder necessary. I hope.”
Laney chuckled, then reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear in a motherly gesture. “You’ve got this, Paisley. I know it’s scary, puttin’ your heart on the line like this. But I promise you, it’ll be worth it. One way or another, at least you’ll know.”
I leaned into her touch, drawing strength from her certainty. “I hope you’re right,” I whispered.
We talked a little longer, the girls offering advice and encouragement, bolstering my resolve. But it wasn’t until Laney made a quiet suggestion that the pieces really started clicking into place.
“You know, it might help to write it all down first,” she mused. “Get your thoughts in order, figure out exactly what you want to say to Adam. I always find it easier to speak my truth when I’ve worked it out on paper first.”
I blinked at her, realization dawning. “Like...like a letter?”
“Exactly. You could write him a letter, spell it all out. And then, if you lose your nerve or the words won’t come...you could just give him the dang thing and let it speak for itself.”
I considered this, my heart starting to pound. It was a daunting prospect, putting my deepest feelings down in black and white. But the more I thought about it...the more right it felt.
“That’s...that’s a really good idea, actually,” I said slowly. “I think I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna go upstairs right now and write it all out. While I still have the courage.”
“Good for you, honey,” Aubree said with a proud smile. “We’ll be right here if you need us.”
I stood up on shaky legs, smoothing down my sundress. I felt jittery, like I’d just knocked back six cups of coffee, but there was a new sense of purpose burning in my veins.
I was really going to do this. I was going to lay my heart bare to Adam Wilson, come what may. And for the first time in a long time...I felt something an awful lot like hope.
With a resolute nod at my friends, I turned and headed for the stairs, my mind already whirling with the words I needed to say. It was time to stop running from the truth.
It was time to be brave.
Two hours later, I emerged from my room feeling lighter than I had in years. Writing that letter to Adam had been cathartic, pouring out all the pent-up emotions and unspoken words I’d been carrying around for so long.
