“Alli told me about this guy, Alex. Serenareallyliked him. But when she opened up to him one day about her mom, he chickened out. Started dating Emilie on her team and they targeted her. Started a smear campaign and it pushed her out of the team.”
“Emilie?”
“Beckham’s date from the party,” Jared says in a way like I’m a child. “She goes to Mooresville. Her mom was the coach. So, it was swept under the rug.”
I run a hand down my tired face. “Fuck.”
Jared’s expression softens as he licks his teeth and shrugs. “I’m gonna be honest with you, Tyler. I don’t know what’s going on with her. She’s been distant like a ghost and claiming she’s sick.”
Huh. That explains it.
“Look, I’m sorry for almost chopping your balls off that night. I just,” Jared scrutinizes his eyes on me as he takes a deep breath, “I see you care about her. Maybe more than I’d like, because I’m a bit protective of her, I’m sure you understand why.”
“Yes. I do.”
“I’ve been having to cover her shifts at Boba Republic and I just can’t multiply myself to keep an eye on her. And I don’t trust Beckham now that I know the girl he was all over was Serena’s childhood bully.”
I feel a huge wave of relief rush through me, but before I can say anything back, Jared continues, “I heard her on the phone before I left this morning… sounded like she was making plans to see her mom.”
Chapter 36
Serena
Love. It’s a word that I hate saying, never quite knowing what romantic love looked or felt like. I basically avoided it at all costs.
Hearing I love you from Tyler wasn’t something I ever imagined, especially not in the middle of my drunk spiral. I thought taking things slow would prevent that.
I asked him if he meant it, not because I didn’t believe him. The sincerity in his eyes told me enough, but I asked because I needed to knowfor myself.
Maybe I’ve never given myself the chance to fall, to feel that rush, because every time I’ve inched towards the edge, I push myself back.
And Tyler... he’s there, waiting at the edge, ready to take that leap with me.
I want to understand love, feel it, not just hear the words. But what if I fall and find out I’ve been missing the parachute? Whatif I hurt him in the process? What if I can’t love him the way he deserves?
We both lost someone important to us. The only difference is that their absence pulls me back from committing whereas Tyler is ready to full send.
Maybe I should follow suit, take control of my fears. Sometimes, it’s about confronting the unknown head-on, daring to explore despite the doubts and risks.
Amidst my thoughts, a notification lights up my phone. My heart skips a beat.
Unknown number:Be there soon, sorry for the wait. - Catherine
For years, she’s been a ghost, a painful void I tried to fill with scenarios. And here comes an opportunity to confront the abandonment.
I’m sitting in the diner, drowning in a sea of thoughts, lost in the familiarity of its bustling ambiance. The noises are starting to become distant. I debate getting up and leaving. Meeting her after all these years might be too much, maybe I’ll never be ready. But I know I can’t push it any longer, I would have to navigate this uncharted territory whether I wanted to or not.
“Serena?”
I lift my head up at the sound of my name. There she is. A mix of familiarity and a stranger’s aura, standing across from me, her eyes holding tales of distant journeys and untold secrets. It’s crazy how I can see myself in her, yet I feel worlds apart.
She takes a seat across from me in the pleather booth. The waitress stops by and takes her order for a cup of coffee. A couple of minutes pass by while a weird and slightly uncomfortable silence envelopes us.
“So…” Catherine says, wrapping her hand around her coffee mug. “How are you?”
I shrug. “I could be better.”
A flash of concern strikes her face. “Everything okay with school?”
