Me:
Did she?
Ash:
She’s organized hundreds of weddings. She mentioned how unenthusiastic you were about yours.
Me:
I feel bad. I invited all those poor people to a wedding that I didn’t show up for.
Ash:
But you saved yourself from a lifetime of unhappiness, and that’s what really matters. I’m relieved, fucking ecstatic, actually. Leon’s the one you should be with and probably should have been with years ago. I see that now.
Me:
Do you really think that?
Ash:
Yes. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy, and when you’re with Leon, you are. I thought I was protecting you from heartache. My intentions were always good, but maybe I went a little overboard with my protectiveness.
Me:
Dad would be so proud of you.
Ash:
I think he’d tell me I’ve been a dickhead.
Me:
He wouldn’t.
Me:
Leon said he hid his feelings out of loyalty to you and respect for your wishes. He didn’t want to lose either of us.
Ash:
He should have slapped me to wake me up from my stupidity. Because if he had, you could have been together this whole time. Or for however long you’ve liked each other for.
Me:
I was in love with him.
Ash:
Was? For how long?
Me:
I fell in love with him when I was eighteen. Throughout my twenties, I was obsessed with him. I still am.
Ash:
Fuck, now I feel even worse.
