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“Honestly,” Meg hisses. “Are kids not taught manners anymore?”
I gulp, my face on fire.
As much as I want to return to our conversation and the excitement of our upcoming trip, the girl’s words echo in my head, a painful reminder that I can’t escape the humiliation of my past.
I can’t sit here any longer, feeling like a spectacle for everyone to gawk at. My hands tremble as I push back my chair and rise to my feet. “I think I need to go home, Meg.”
She looks so disappointed that for a moment, I feel guilty. “Are you sure? They’re the ones that should leave.”
I shake my head, aware that yet another person — this time a barista behind the counter — is studying me with interest. “It’s fine.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, it’s okay. I just… I need some time alone.” I force a smile, trying to reassure her. “But thank you for today. It really did help, you know, until…”
She nods, her eyes softening with sympathy. “Just remember, their opinions don’t matter. You’re so much more than what happened that day.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat.
We hug, and even though I can feel her support, I still feel I’m cracking into a million tiny pieces.
As I turn to leave, I try to hold onto the memory of her encouraging words, hoping they’ll be enough to keep the darkness at bay.
The fresh air outside wraps around me like a comforting embrace as I make my way to my car. I fumble for my keys, my fingers still shaking from the humiliation. Just as I’m about to unlock the door, my phone starts ringing.
I reach for my phone, about to silence it, not wanting to talk to anyone right now — until I see that it’s Felix calling.
My heart skips a beat, and the memory of our hug at the wedding comes back. He was exactly what I needed in that moment, and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about him more than a few times since then.
Taking a deep breath, I swipe to accept the call and press the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Well, hello. Hello, Lillian.” The familiar voice on the other end instantly lifts my spirits, momentarily making me forget my troubles.
I roll my eyes. No one calls me Lillian except my parents when they’re upset with me. Oh, and Felix when he wants to get on my nerves.
“Hello, Your Highness,” I respond, sending a worthy jab back at him.
He laughs because, just like me, he hates formalities. “Guess what? I’m back in San Francisco!”
“Oh.” I get into my car and turn it on. “That’s wonderful.”
“I was thinking we could go out tonight. You know, just the two of us, having fun like old times.”
I hesitate, memories of laughter and camaraderie with Felix filling my mind. We always have a good time together, but my current emotional state has me second-guessing everything.
“I don’t know… I’m not really feeling up to it.”
“Come on,” he cajoles, his voice warm and inviting. “You need a break from all the drama. I promise it’ll be a fun, no-pressure evening. Just two friends enjoying each other’s company.”
His words resonate with me, and I can’t help but smile at the thought of spending some carefree time with him. If anyone can pull me out of this slump, it’s him.
“Okay,” I relent. “But only because you’re so charming.”
“Great! I’ll pick you up at eight. Dress casual, okay? And don’t worry about anything. Tonight is all about having fun.”
I let out a relieved breath simply at his promise to take care of everything. That’s one of the nicest things about being around Felix; he loves taking care of his friends and cheering them up. When you’re with him, it’s like all the worries of the world just fall away.
“Thanks, Felix.” A smile tugs at my lips. “I’ll see you then.”
