He deserves it.
Blair: Want to meet me for a drink tonight? Paisley’s at eight?
Nathan: Yes! Thank you. I’ll be there. I love you
I smile, picturing the excitement in his eyes, until a new feeling overwhelms me, a distant pit forming in my stomach.
What if I see him and the feelings aren’t there anymore?
What if the love hasn’t just faded... What if it’s gone?
What if it’s too late?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Zane
I’m not sure how long I sit in my rental on the side of the road, but I can’t move, my conversation with Blair running on repeat through my mind.
What the fuck is going on with me?I’m in LA? With Blair? No, not with her.Forher. And I no longer recognize myself.
All Jenna said was that Blair was struggling, and I dropped everything to be here. I missed practice. I lied to my coaches, telling them I was sick. For what? To confirm what I’ve been denying for the last seven years. That I’m never going to move on from that night. I’m never going to move on from Blair. No matter what I tell myself.
Did I hit my head in the game last weekend? Is that what this is? I’m crazy if I think this is a good idea. It’s insane. But I can’t stop. I’m not done.
I may have promised myself—and Blair—that I’d leave her alone. But that’s not an option anymore.
I’m sorry, B.
Movement from the tree line draws my attention, and despite there being loads of people coming and going, I don’t have to glance up to know that it’s her.
And fuck, she’s beautiful.
Sad but so goddamn beautiful.
That asshole better be treating her better than I think he is, and protecting her from dicks like himself. Because I want nothing more than to find where he lives and beat the shit out of him. God knows it’d be a long time coming.
The only thing stopping me is that Blair’s still got her spark. He has to be doing something right.In theory.
Blair gets in her car and unknowingly follows my lead, staring into space as though lost in thought. While I watch her like she’s prey.
A darkness washes over me and my chest tightens. She always planned to leave Florida. Seven years ago, moving to California would have been a dream for her. But something has changed, and it’s clearly not what she thought it would be.
Fucking Nathan.
He should be helping her settle in, helping her to find a job and make new friends. Although she’s got that covered—if she doesn’t tell Jenna to fuck off for conspiring with me.
Nathan should be doing all that he can. Like I would.
Like I should…
An idea comes to mind and I grab my phone, taking a deep breath as I pull up my messages. I must be crazy if I’m about to do this, but Blair needs someone. And maybe I’m it.
With sheer reluctance and the vision of a gun to my head, I open the group chat, cursing myself before asking for help. If it’s not about me, it doesn’t count, right?
ZANE: I have a good friend looking for a job in nursing, do any of you have contacts?
I expect Reed to offer to help, even if he doesn’t know anyone—and when the three little dots pop up, I chuckle preemptively—but what I don’t expect is for Dylan to respond.
