“Me.” I was reluctant to say it because I didn’t want it to be true. It would be so much easier to blame someone else. But the truth was that I had made the choice to mess around with Aubrey instead of distancing myself from her. I made the choice not to break up with Sadie even though I had known deep down I would probably sleep with Aubrey.
I admitted these things to him, and he smiled. “You were pretty quick to come around to accepting blame. Sounds like you’ve already thought about this.”
I gave him a half smile. “I guess so. Maybe I did it without even realizing it. I had a lot of time to think. First, I was going through rehab and physical therapy on my leg. Then I went back to school where I discovered who my real friends were. Spoiler alert… I didn’t have any. They all transferred to UGA with Sadie. And since graduation? I’ve been cooped up in bed, staring out my window. I’ve had plenty of time to think about what I’ve done wrong.”
He stood up. “I think this is a good place to stop. We made a lot of progress today, and I hope to see you next week if you plan to continue therapy with me.”
“I do.”
“Just make an appointment on your way out, then. And I’ll see you next week.”
I left the office feeling lighter than I had in months. Yes, it hurt to accept complete responsibility for cheating on Sadie. But it was past time for me to do so.
Therapy was going to help me get my life back on track. I could feel it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sadie
I’d stayed at the University of Georgia through the summer a couple of years in order to get back on track after taking two semesters off following the horrible, humiliating breakup with Harrison. But the summer after graduating college, I was home and free. It was fantastic. All my friends were home, and we took full advantage of what we knew would probably be our last summer of carefree fun before starting our careers.
One day, I hurried into my parents’ house after spending most of the afternoon laying out by the pool at Carrie’s house. “Hey, y’all,” I said as I flew up the stairs. “I’m going to take a shower and then head back out. We’re going to have a cookout over at Melinda’s tonight. Y’all are invited, of course.” I stopped and turned on the stairs. “Oh, Mom? They wanted me to ask if you’d bring your chocolate chip cookies…” I trailed off as I saw Harrison sitting in the family room with my parents. I gaped at him for a moment before I was able to speak. “What areyoudoing here?”
He flinched. I hadn’t meant for my words to come out quite so sharply, but he took me by surprise.
“Honey, if you don’t want him here, I told him he’d have to leave,” my dad said. He looked very much like he’d love to kick Harrison’s ass. I was pretty sure my mom must be keeping that from happening.
Of course I didn’t want him in my house. I stared at him. Why the hell did he think he’d be welcome here?
He cleared his throat. “Sadie, I’d like to talk with you if you’ll give me a few minutes.”
I started walking back down the stairs slowly.
“I’ll get lemonade,” my mom said with a reserved smile.
“Thank you, Mrs. Summers…”
“No!”
Everyone jumped, and I realized I’d shouted.
“No,” I said more calmly. “Don’t get lemonade, Mom.” I gestured for Harrison to get up and follow me. “Harrison was just leaving. I’ll walk him out.”
“I can handle that for you, pumpkin.”
I smiled at my dad. “I’ve got this, Dad. Don’t worry.”
He nodded and glared at Harrison.
Harrison looked taken aback by my poor reception of him. I don’t know why. I’d blocked him in every way I could right after the breakup and hadn’t been in touch with him since.
I heard his steps behind me as I made my way to the door. I was suddenly very aware that I was only wearing a bikini top and cut-offs. I wished I’d thrown a T-shirt on, but the car had been flaming hot when I’d gotten in. It hadn’t had a chance to cool off on the short trip from Carrie’s house to mine, either.
I waited until the door closed behind him before turning to look at him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He looked alarmed. “Um… I just wanted a chance to apologize in person and to try to talk with you about some things.”
I blinked at him. “After two years? I mean, I think you said everything you had to say right after it happened.”
