“You’renotsorry.” Cheyenne looks up, her eyes now fiery. “You clearlywantedus to break up. You probably did it on purpose!” The shrillness in her tone makes me wince. “You probably planned to sabotage it.”
“That’s way too much effort,” I mutter, shaking my head and folding my arms across my chest. “Regardless, you deserve better than him.”
“Garrett cared about me,” she argues. “He wanted more for me than what I currently have. I don’t have family—”
“Youdohave family,” I stop her. “You don’t need some guy to save you, Chey. We’re your family, and we’ll always be your family.”
“Okay, I know that. But ... still.” She sighs.
“You’re tough, Chey. You’ll show him.”
“Ha,okay,” she retorts, wiping snot from her nose. “You’re tryingwaytoo hard to make me feel better right now.” There’s a sharpness in her tone that actually does hurt, and as much as I want to help her right now...
Maybe she needs some space.
I take a step back, breathing out a defeated sigh. All I want is for her to smile again, and I don’t know how to make that happen. I don’t know how to make anything right in a situation like this...
But itisThanksgiving.
“Do you want some pie?” I offer in hopes of swaying her from sitting outside for the rest of the holiday. “Some real pie, no mayo included.”
She lets out a tiny laugh, and my heart skips a beat.
“You can eat your feelings. And then, maybe I could take you Black Friday shopping, if it would make you feel better. Whatdo they call that? When you shop to numb your feelings...” I pause, mulling it over.
“Retail therapy.” Cheyenne smiles through her tears. “And while I really appreciate it, I don’t really feel like getting trampled for a barely discounted TV right now.”
“That is completely valid,” I assure, closing the distance again and extending a hand. “Maybe that’s not the best way to get over him—but it would be an adrenaline rush.”
She laughs again, and this time sounds just a little lighter. “Yeah, but I will take some pie. I should probably get a head start on eating my feelings.” Chey takes my hand and lets me help her up. I ignore the warmth of her touch and immediately release her. She uses both hands to dust off her jeans.
I gesture toward the house. “And if for some reason, eating your feelings doesn’t work, I’d be happy to go slash his tires...”
She peers up at me, a tiny sparkle returning to her eyes. “As much as that might feel vindicating, I don’t think you need any misdemeanors on your record. I have a feeling Garrett would knowexactlywho would be responsible for it.”
I scrunch my nose as she passes me to climb the porch steps. “You think? Because I feel like he’d have no clue.”
Chey glances back down at me. “You’re crazy.”
I grin at her. “I know.”
But at least you feel a little better.
Chapter Six
Cheyenne
I’m a mess.
It’s been three days of crying now, and I still can’t seem to stop the waterworks. I splash cold water on my face for the millionth time, but it doesn’t help the swelling ... or the hollow feeling in my chest.
Breaking up with Garrett isn’t new. We’ve done it before. But never in front of other people. Something about him walking out on Thanksgiving, in front of the Williamston family, feels ... different. Final.
“He certainly made his point,” I mutter to my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My hair’s thrown into a sloppy bun, and I’m wearing the same oversized Glaciers sweatshirt I’ve had onsince yesterday, paired with leggings that have definitely seen better days.
I shuffle back to my couch and curl up under the throw blanket that’s become my nest for the past seventy-two hours. Jhett, my sweet little black lab mix, nudges my hand with his wet nose. His deep brown eyes watch me intently, like I might shatter if he blinks. And maybe he’s right.
Every time I replay Garrett’s words in my head, the crack in my chest splinters a little deeper. Normally, in the heat of an argument, I fight back. But this time, I was so caught off guard by the public humiliation of the whole thing that I just stood there, absorbing his words like I was some sort of punching bag. And somehow, the quieter I got, the more he said.
