This is who I am now.
Bring on New York. We can do this.
Chapter 29
Georgia
“So,” Lily stands in the doorway of my room, scanning the boxes. “You’re really going to do this?”
“Yep.” I kneel in the middle of my bedroom, surrounded by a mountain of cardboard.
Lily takes a sip of her iced coffee, already having heard the entire story three times. “And you don’t think it’s too fast? Not even a little?”My new—well, now old—roommate is onlyslightlyskeptical of the whole thing.
I shake my head. “I’m tired of trying to put a timeline on things, and I’m tired of trying to make everyone else happy with my decisions.”
“I’m in total support.” She pauses. “This is just a lot. I’m happy for you, though. Really.”
“Thanks.” I work my way through the dresser drawers, wondering how I ended up with so many clothes—many of them things I don’t even like.Should I spend the time to purge some of them while I’m doing this?I decide I really don’t have the time or energy.
“Just know you can always come back.” She plops onto the edge of my bed, the ice rattling in her cup. When I don’t say anything, she keeps pressing. “You haven’t really said muchabout how you’re actually feeling… are you excited? Or just, like, freaked the fuck out?”
I toss a pile of clothes into a cardboard box, and then meet her eyes. “I think I’m just ready for something new. I didn’t think it would ever be this easy, but it is. I stopped caring what everyone else wanted and put myself first.”
Lily nods, like she understands, but then blows out a puff of air. “Does your dad know about the move? Or is he going to see it on Instagram and send a drone strike?”
I laugh, but it’s a little hollow. “I haven’t told him anything. I don’t think I’ll worry about posting it to Instagram either. I don’t think anyone actually cares. The people who matter will know.”
“Okay, but you know… maybe you should tell him.” She picks up the floppy hat from Key West sitting on my bed and puts it on her head. She gives me a funny look from beneath the brim. “For, you know, closure, or whatever.”
I shake my head and dump the contents of my sock drawer in a box. “Closure is overrated. Sometimes people just suck, and you move on.”
Lily purses her lips. “Maybe. But you might regret not saying the things you needed to.” She lets the hat slide off, then huffs, “Daisy agrees with me, by the way.”
I groan, my shoulders slumping. “Are you in some group chat about my emotional health?”
Lily beams. “Obviously. Want to call her?”
Before I can protest, she calls Daisy on speaker. It rings once before Daisy answers, voice bright and cheery. “Hey, Georgie. You surviving the packpocalypse?”
“Define surviving.” I glance around the room, picking at a thread on my jeans. “Did Lily tell you she’s staging an intervention?”
Daisy giggles. “Of course. Look, you know I don’t want to tell you what to do, but you need to deal with your dad, Georgia. Youcan’t just move out and start a whole new life without exorcising that demon first. It’ll chase you. Trust me. I have a master’s in running from my parents, and I still regret not saying a bunch of shit. I think you should at least give yourself some closure.”
There’s a long, uncomfortable silence as I think about this. I finally glance at Lily, who’s giving me that look, the one that’s equal parts empathy and an elbow to the ribs.
Damnit. Maybe they’re right.
I sigh, dropping my hands to my lap. “What would I even say?”
“Try ‘I’m happy, I’m safe, and I’m not apologizing for my life choices,’” Daisy offers, her voice jumping with excitement. “Or just go full scorched earth and tell him to fuck off. I fully support either.”
Lily nods. “I like option two, personally. I like the idea of going out with a real bang.”
Well, I don’t. I hate it, actually. I hate the idea of another scene, another drawn-out drama that ends with me either screaming or crying or both. But as I look around at the sum total of my possessions, the ghosts of my old selves warring for prime real estate in a new apartment with Brody, I realize I can’t leave this place—thislife—without at least trying to end it on my own terms.
I steel myself, nodding my head slowly. “Okay. You know what? I’ll do it. I think maybe it is better to close the door fully.”
“Fuck yes,” Daisy cheers. “We’ll be here for moral support afterward, Georgia. Promise.”
