This is my game, and only I can make the rules.
I couldn’t wait to watch Evelyn break. She thought she could run from me, but it looks like the universe couldn’t wait to throw her right into my arms.
“Tell me more about The Woods.” I interrupted.
“The Woods are a wealthy Black family that made their money in oil. They’re one of the founders of Oakland Ridge. Jonathan is a real cutthroat businessman—he pays real wellsince he doesn’t like to get his hands dirty. He’s got two daughters who work for him, and his wife runs a few charities. They’re a very high-profile family; well guarded.”
I stored every detail in my mind, the plan coming together. This was a reunion I couldn’t wait for, but I had to be smart. Hanging up, I started the car and merged onto the road.
The original plan had been for Evelyn to be alone, scared, and on the run, always looking over her shoulder. But this plan was going to be so much better. If she thought that she could get comfortable while we had unfinished business, then she had another thing coming.
Everything that she loved. Every dream that she had. All of it would be undone.
My foot hit the gas, and I watched the speedometer jump as the car went faster and faster.
I had dreams too. I had people I loved, once.
The trees blurred as I accelerated down the long, winding road.
The Howards ruined my life. Maybe I could’ve gotten over Celeste if Evelyn had never asked me to stay. Every time I thought in “maybes” I felt more of myself slipping away. There was no maybe, only the here and now.
One decision changed everything for me. Four years of having her flaunt her love in my face, her desire never directed at me. All because I let Evelyn convince me we could be a real family. We were basically orphans by our own definition. I would never forget our promise.
June’s bed was all made up except for a pillow out of place. I went to their apartment to check on Evelyn and found her curled up there, sobbing into her mother’s pillow.
I sat on the corner of the bed as she howled for her mother.
When she finally caught her breath, she patted the space beside her, and I lay down facing her.
“Promise me that we’ll all stay together. We could have the family we always wanted.” She sniffled, looking intently into my eyes.
“Evvie, we’ll always be family, but you know I can’t stay.” I hoped that if I said the words enough, they would be true. My bags still weren’t packed for San Francisco, and Ma was already looking for someone to cover her shifts.
“We can get through anything, right? That’s what you always say. Then we’ll get through this, too.” Her tears flowed freely as she spoke earnestly.
“How exactly do you get over someone you see almost every day?”
“Charlie, we’ve been friends since birth. It would be weirder not to see each other almost every day. What’s meant to be will be.” Whipping her eyes, she sat up, pulling me with her. “I think we're better together than apart. Don’t run away from your family. I can’t take another person leaving me.”
“What’s meant to be will be.”
She had a way with words. That one sentence stayed with me all throughout our college years.
My time was coming, or at least I thought it was.
She had to fuck everything up.
The white lights and the sound of a horn blaring brought me back to the present. I grabbed the wheel and swerved, barely escaping a head-on collision with a semi at full speed.
Jamming my finger into the power button, the radio powered on at full volume.Bulls in The Bronxby Pierce The Veil played like a racing anthem as I glided on the dark night roads.
I didn’t care that I would have to drive all night to reach Oakland Ridge. I just needed to get there. Evelyn stole my life from me and sold me a dream. She wrote a check she couldn’t cash, and now she was out there living life while my life, myfuture, was destroyed. I was so close to leaving, to getting away—stopping the itch, the need to have her.
Evelyn robbed us of our happy life. I was supposed to leave, she would realize what a big mistake she had made, and finally choose me. Ma said she just needed time. Girls like her needed to fly and to see the world before they settled down with a good man. I believed her. I was going to leave, bury my head in the books, and bide my time. With space between us, I’d become the man of her dreams and she’d have no choice but to pick me. That plan went up in flames the moment I didn’t get on the plane.
“What’s meant to be will be.”
She gave me hope; fanned the flame that was my obsession.
