Chapter 14
“Gight,” I replied, closing the door behind him
As 1 leaned against the dan, tears streaming down my face, I realized something Important
Losing Alex had always been easy
Letting him go was the hardest thing I’d ever done
That night, as the city lights cast long shadows actos my on, I lay awake, replaying every word of our conversation
I wanted to believe him I wanted to believe that he could change, that we could have the kind of love I’d always dreamed of
Hit a part of me couldn’t ignore the voice in the back of my mind whispering, What if it happens again?
And until I could silence that voice, I knew I couldn’t give him the answer he wanted
Not yet
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Chapter 14
cheering on the nightstand pulled me from the age of a petes deep. The morning light was dill, filted though thick clouds that hinted at anoth
rm and loviting spare felt roldandi
ported her sitting in a booth by the window.
bepibians gane was pinting as she leaned forward slightly. “Tanu going to waste your time, Lawes, Eknow about your and Alex.”
My Heath (auch “Ther“‘unching poing on beneren us,” 1 und quickly, though ther worth felt bollow even to me.
testna thin line: “Maybe not none But there’s something, in’t there? Something that’s been simmering for years.?”
The gamutan hung in the air, heavy and sulfocating
sophia’iespornim softened, though het vake remained firm. “You do I can see it.”
Ludlum’t contijin or demy II. Instead, I sad the only thing Fould “He’s your lanci, Sophia Whatever feelings I have demn’t matter.” “They matter to the ” she said, het te sharpening. They matter because Alex has been distant, distracted—ever since he saw you Hell the amiga of bet accusation, though broukdir’i hting myull to arpie..
Sophia took a deep breath, meadying herself “I came
“Up agamin?” {repeated, the words stinging
use I needed to see you. To understand what
Taber sart, her paw unwavering “Because Air might not admit it, but his best. And I’m not going to let him desissy my life of yours–because he can’t make a choice.
“I didn’t ask lise that,” (suitquetly. “I didn’t ask for him to show up in my life again
“But be did,” she said postedy. “And now you have a choke to make too, Lauren Do you want him? Or are you
en you going to walk away
The question bong between us, and for a moment, I felt like I was drowning
Sophia’s jas tightened, but she nodded, at if she had expected that response. “The I’ll make it easy for you,” she said, standing “Figion it out. Quickly. Because I’m not going to wait mood for ham fuderade, I’m suir as hell not going to let you sit on the sidelines, either.
host of the café, leaving me alone with the remnants of her sharp words
don’t zrakor low tuch bei confrontation had dialed me until lietusedtomyparemy house. I stamped onto the couch, burying my face in my hands as the weight of everything
i confessions, Ids promises, his nalility to let goof meevenas
And I thought about Sophia –ining, determined, unwilling to settle fut anything les
t’i planning an staying in town much longer anyway, but now thrus proxy to leave foli aseistalining
para brindles. Firm Sophia. From the tangled neu al zinations that see
As Tripped up the bag, my mum appearedute dorway
finans iliin karen anything toily with Ale alan asked, beri voler soll but knowing
rpgång indollar visam. “But whatwert’s godig ist, just
odka’t have to have all the amweight now.”
aletykiet het support aven II I didn’t feel deserving of it
The test meaning, as i baded my sittrase intuita van, tar san booka tha sugh the clouds him the Bast thuis in days.
fuit just as I was about în per line the driver’s seat, a familiar vidercalledist ing nama
a need to see Ales popplagtomaidne, his expresslin parkked.
“What air poi ding?” he asked, stopping a few feet away.
“Leaving ” I will simply.
or chest. “I can’t keep dang this, AlexTM
schling mine. “Tau dont have to do this alone, Laury
dex” widow. Because all you were ott figuring our your life, I was stock here, trying to pick up the pieces of mine.”
dhed fax my hand, but I pulled back
in” (said firmly. “I deserve some who doesn’t need time or space second chances to know they want me.”
ken.” be said fås voice pleading. “But I love you, Lauren. I’ve always loved you.”
( my tears. “But love im’t enough if it comes at the cost of peace.”
rong di Ching the tightly as stood there, watching me.
a voice to umbling bot
rearview mirror, along with the m memories and pain I was leaving behind.
setose of treedom—a small, frage hope that maybe, just maybe, I could finally start over.
