His words feel like a fan to my flame, and at this moment, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of me or what they have to say. I’m positive that if I had one thousand bad reviews, Evan would write ten thousand good ones.
The man nods. “Thank you, and good luck, Rachel. I’ll be following you.”
I grin at the man, but when he steps away, I’m not prepared for who is hidden behind BarrettsBestie, and my smile falters slightly.
Standing at the microphone is Andrew.
I’d seen him at Christmas, but his dark hair is now shaggy, framing his pale face and piercing blue eyes. His face is clean shaven, and he’s wearing the same baby blue polo shirt he wears for almost every family photo because one time I told him that it brought out his eyes.
“Hey, RayRay. You look good,” he says with his smug-like smile.
I stiffen at my old nickname, and I feel Evan’s hand tighten around mine before he leans in with his voice low and steady. “Are you okay?”
“It’s Andrew,” I whisper back.
“ThatAndrew?” he asks.
I nod my head. “Yes.”
“Do you want me to…” He trails off before his fingers softly pull my chin, so my gaze is only on him. “I’m more than happy to insult the guy, take him out back if you want…But, remember when you told me that this man has already taken so much from you? Don’t let him take more.”
Don’t let him take more.
“Thank you,” I breathe, and when I turn my head back toward Andrew, he’s smirking as if he thinks he just landed a punch by being here.
I’m not the girl I once was. I’m not even the woman I was five weeks ago. If he thinks he’s playing a game, I’m going to add some new game pieces and call itGesundheit!
I give him my biggest smile. “Is that a question?”
He gives a stiff laugh. “No, just…I thought I should be here for you.”
I tilt my head. “That’s still not a question.”
Andrew’s eyes flicker, just a fraction, enough for me to know there’s hesitation. “I wanted to show my support. I needed to see you.”
I let the silence stretch out a little, to make him squirm from me not giving an immediate response, from me not thanking him for being here when he shouldn’t be here at all.
I finally give a slight shrug. “Well, I guess you’ll have to figure out who you are supporting then, because it isn’t me.”
It’s a reverse Uno card if reverse Uno cards were words. I’m silently proud of myself, but Evan isn’t silent at his own pride. He laughs quietly, which makes Andrew’s gaze snap to him.
“I do have a question, actually. For Evan. How long are you going to pretend to be with her? To make her think she even has a chance? I’ve seen the women that you can have. Is there an end to this little publicity stunt to sell your books?” Andrew’s jaw is tight.
His words are meant to insult me, to make me feel like I’m not deserving of anyone else’s love. I believed that for so long, but I don’t believe it now. If anything, I feel sad for the man at the microphone who has held on so tightly to the past that he won’t break free from it.
Maybe that makes me ignorant, or maybe, that’s just what makes me—me. The woman who can see a silver lining, who chooses to believe there is always more to a story than what we think we know. After all, our origin story is just that—where we begin. But where we end up? That pen is in our own hand.
I look at Evan and his eyes are black with fire, but it’s controlled, contained…dangerous if he chose it. He doesn’t speak. He just stares at Andrew, like he’s peeling him apart in real time, studying every jagged little piece that once cut me. And I know if I let Evan speak, his words would eat Andrew alive, but this isn’t his fight.
“Look, Andrew, I’m sorry,” I say.
This startles both him and Evan. No one is expecting me to apologize, but I’m not done.
“I’m sorry I let you make me feel like I didn’t matter, that I allowed you to break promises, that I somehow lost myself in a game I never wanted to play with you.” I pause, taking a breath. “But I’m not sorry for who I am anymore. For what I’ve learned. For how much I’ve grown. I don’t blame the girl I used to be. She didn’t know better, and she’s not here right now. So, whatever insecurities you have that made you drive a wholetwo hoursto try to make her feel small…you’re going to have to learn how to deal with them differently.”
Andrew blinks, opens his mouth, then closes it again.
Evan leans in and whispers, “Can I hit him now?”
