Really?
“Jesus fuck, Paul!” Connor groans before decking him in the jaw.
A loud crack sounds before Paul is knocked on his ass, frowning.
The only words that come out of my mouth are, “Connor! Your hand!”
He looks over at me, seemingly glad that I’m less of a zombie, at least momentarily. “It’s well worth it, Auds. I’m more than willing to do it again, too.”
Paul’s jaw is already swelling when the woman looks around at all of us and mumbles, “I’m so sorry,” before running out the door.
Ten: Noah
Ghost Of You - 5 Seconds of Summer
Connor offered for me to go with him, but I told him I didn’t think it would be a good idea. I couldn’t handle seeing her looking sad or crying, and I know without a doubt that if I saw Paul I’d end up being charged with manslaughter.
He grabbed her.
He hurt her.
Instead, I run laps, trying to calm the anger in my chest and relax my tense muscles.
Connor might be known for being one of the best pitchers in the league, but I’ve always been one of the fastest players. My mom used to joke that it was because I was always chasing after Audrey and running away from the other girls.
She was probably right about that one.
My mom was the one person I always fully confided in, it comes from her being a single parent and a therapist. Even as an adult I still call her often.
Knowing that I’ll only be two hours from her now, instead of states away, makes the trade all the more worth it for me.
Lap after lap, I let the ache in my muscles guide me and pull me towards a clear mind. I can’t lean into my feelings for Audrey right now, she has to grieve. The Audrey that met us for dinner was a shell of the one I used to know. She has to heal.
I can’t interfere, no matter how much I want to.
When my dad left my mom she cried for weeks. She was numb and nothing seemed to help pull her out of her misery, so I imagine Audrey needs her own version of that.
Two weeks after my dad left, Audrey showed up with freshly baked cookies and ran up to my mom’s room with a copy of some chick-flick I’d never heard of. Audrey was like the daughter she always wanted and in that moment, a movie and a fresh face seemed to be exactly what she needed.
After that, Audrey somehow roped Mom into joining her and her mom for Friday movie nights. She’d also find activities for our families to try together, it’s like she made it her mission to create as much fun for us as she possibly could.
I don’t know if she ever realized it made things much easier on me too.
My mom hugged me the hardest the day the divorce was finalized. She stopped wearing her wedding ring thesecond the papers were signed.That was the last time I spoke to my father.
We’ve never talked about that day, but I remember it vividly. I assume she does too.
We sat and watched the sunset together talking about people who make us happy. The conversation kept circling back to Audrey.
It was the first and only time I admitted out loud that I loved Audrey—that is, until she asked me on the phone yesterday
My mom met my gaze with a smile and said, “I know. The two of you are soulmates, Noah. Trust the journey because you’ll always find each other.”
I just hope if she gives me a chance, I can prove to her that I’m in this for the long haul and that I won’t hurt her the way Paul did.
A sour taste fills my mouth when I realize I already did hurt her. I was the first guy to hurt her.
I put my head down, running another lap, as I mentally beat myself up. I should’ve been honest with myself, and I should’ve been honest with her.
