“Spencer just needed to get some things off his chest.”
“Oh.” That’s cryptic. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Elli. Are you okay?” he asks, finally looking over at me.
I try not to overthink the fact that he called me “Elli” and not “baby” like he usually does. I just nod my head. “My mom just had some things to say, mean things, about you and my choices. I told her I don’t care about what she thinks. My choices are my choices and I want to be with you. Then she said she didn’t recognize me anymore and told me to leave.”
I don’t even realize I’m crying until the rough, calloused pad of Wes’s thumb brushes away the offending tear. I thought I could be strong and not let what my parents said affect me, but I guess that’s not the case.
Even as an adult, I still want their approval. But I guess now, I want my own approval more than I want theirs. I want to be happy. And sometimes being happy means disappointing people.
“I’m so sorry, Elli.” Wes says, his voice pained as he brings me in for a hug.
I place my face in his chest and sob, right there in the middle of the sidewalk, in front of a plant store. I don’t know what Wes is sorry for, but I know he’s sincere in his sorrow.
I breathe in the familiar scent of him that I’ve come to love. He smells like home. He smells like new beginnings and happiness, and I hope he never changes body washes.
I look up at him, probably looking like a racoon with my mascara smeared under my eyes, and give him a small smile.
“I love you.” I whisper.
He gives me a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I love you, too.”
Chapter 47
Wes
The heavy weight of the last two hours is sitting like a lead ball in my stomach. I keep wondering why she didn’t tell me that her mom told her to break up with me. Is it because she’s going to do it? The anticipation and anxiety over if she is is making me spiral a little bit.
I think we’re both hungry after not being able to eat much at dinner, but neither of us wants to break the silence that we’ve been uncomfortably sitting in for the last half an hour. It’s like we’re both waiting for the other to end things and save ourselves the misery of an extended break up.
I clear my throat, “Are you hungry?”
“A little. Do you want me to go grab some burgers or something?” She’s been picking apart a thread that’s frayed on the hotel’s comforter.
“I can go grab some. You want your usual?”
She nods, and I grab the keys. As I’m about to head out the door, she calls my name. I stop and turn around to look at her, and my heart cracks right in two at the tears in her eyes and the dejected look on her face.
“My mom told me I had to break up with you or else I’m no longer part of the family.” She swallows, swiping at the tears on her face.
I brace myself for the impact of her next words.
“I’m going to need some time, and a lot of patience to work through this.”
“I understand. When we get back, I’ll make sure to tell Robin and Savannah that we’re not together anymore, but that you guys still need to be friends. I’ll make sure Jess knows it’s not your fault and-”
“What are you talking about?” She cuts me off.
“Well, we’re breaking up, aren’t we? I don’t want people to blame you, or for you to lose the friends you’ve made since moving to San Marcos.”
“Do youwantto break up?”
“Hell no, but I understand that your family is important to you. We just started dating, so I understand you’d want to choose them over me.”
“You think that little of me? That I’d let this end us?” The hurt on her face is breaking my heart even more.
“No, but I-”
