"Yes," Ebony said aloud, staring at the screen, before typing the word, her voice sounding small even to her.
Beryl:Then what is the issue?
Me:What do you mean what is the issue? What would people think? What would my parents even-
She didn’t get to finish typing it all before Taylor replied.
Taylor:Ebbs, your parents already know Gavin is in love with you.
Beryl:And the whole town.
Ebony could imagine Beryl's dry voice saying that.
Taylor:Just call them. I promise you'll see I'm right.
So many thoughts were running through her head. Her parents would not approve! And why did they think they would? How did the whole town know when she practically just found out? But one question, albeit a random one, stuck out from the rest.
Me:If you knew this, why didn’t you tell me?
Taylor:And risk Gavin killing me in my sleep? Sorry no thanks. And besides, no one including Gavin ever wanted to say anything. We all just wanted to know how you felt. Because if you didn’t love him in return what good would it have done.
Ebony didn’t reply back; she got up and got dressed. She needed to move, to go out, to do something other than sit here on this bed where Gavin had just shattered her entire world moments ago.
Opening her door, she stopped at the sight of his closed door. Since they had come back from the trip he hadn't shut his door. An ache formed in her chest followed by the unbearable need to open it and see him. Her hand was reaching for the door knob when she stopped.
"Will I spend my life at your side, or walk away to save what’s left of me? Because I’m done pretending."
His words rang in her head.
No, he was right. She had to stop lying to him and to herself. What he wanted was written all over him, and hers—was clawing just underneath her skin.
Tiptoeing down the hall, she went downstairs and out the back door. Within seconds Duke was bounding at her side ready to go on whatever adventure she was. It didn’t matter that it was late, he was ready.
Walking down the path past the pool and basketball court she made it to the gazebo. The dark red roses smothered the round structure. Stepping inside, she sat on the bench and inhaled the cool night air.
There was so much inside of her it felt as if she was bursting at the seams. Anxiety whirled and spun in her gut, growing bigger by the second with thoughts of doubt and fear. Tipping her head back over the bench, Ebony stared out into the sky. There was one emotion that stuck out, though. One that shone golden and bright like a beacon in a storm.
She loved Gavin and Gavin loved her. Not just the love she was used to but the unwavering kind that made her soul sing with happiness. It was like a secret dream coming true. Now the only thing standing in the way of it was her of all people.
Sitting up straight, she didn’t give herself a chance to second guess herself; she dialed the number.
It rang twice before the voice she was expecting answered.
"Darling?! What's wrong?" The worry in her father's voice made her frown.
What…
Sensing her confusion he continued. "I'm assuming you accidentally called your mother and meant to call me. What is it, sweetheart?"
If this were any other time, she would've laughed. Especially since she could hear her mother's sharp tone saying something to him.
Ebony shook her head. "No…it wasn’t a mistake. I really did want to talk to mom."
Shebit her lip at the soft almost vulnerable sound of her voice. That would only make him less likely to give up the phone.
Grant's voice became serious. "Sweetheart, if something is wrong you can just-"
"Grant," the cool sound of her mother's edged voice hushed him and she heard a rustle before her mother came on the line. "Hello, darling."
