Ryan.
I blinked several times and pulled in a breath. She knew Ryan and I had broken up, and she knew the reason, too. I’d told her. She had listened to me and never said anything, just listened. It was what I had needed at the time.
I needed this too.
“I don’t care about money.”
“Well that’s good to hear.”
“Sally, I…”
She held up her hand and stopped me. “Brooke, do what you need to do, but make sure you’re true to yourself.”
My eyes widened. That was the same kind of thing I would have said because that’s what Dad used to say to me.
“Brooke be true to yourself and be true to your heart.”
Heart?
My heart. God, my heart was set on Ryan. It screamed to me calling for him. Be true to my heart.
“My heart.” I breathed speaking the words more to myself than to her.
“How about I call you later to check that you got home safe.” She winked at me and gave me a quick hug.
“Thanks for everything, Sally. I’m so glad I got to meet you.” I nodded.
“And you, Brooke. Talk to you soon.” She gave me a bright smile and left.
I sat in silence for a few minutes then Noah came to get me.
“You ready?” he asked. He looked sad too.
“Hey, don’t give me that sad face. We’ll see each other as per usual.”
“You being closer reminded me of the good old days when we used to live next door.”
“I know, but at least you don’t have to put up with my craziness anymore.”
He laughed. “The craziness is what I love most about you. You wouldn’t be Brooke without the crazy.”
I gave him a hug and pulled away before I broke down.
It felt wrong. It felt wrong to leave.
I felt even worse when we stepped outside and saw Ryan and Aria waiting for me by the car.
Aria got to me first. She gave me the biggest hug ever, and I found it hard to let her go. I didn’t want to let her go. This girl had touched my heart in so many ways.
“Keep up the amazing work in school,” I told her, cupping her face as we pulled apart.
“I will.”
“Beautiful and smart—it’s a deadly combo.”
She hugged me again.
When she released me, I looked to Ryan, who could barely look at me. I felt the same and worse since it was me who’d ended things, and in such a bad way. I’d practically told him I didn’t ever want to see him again.
