“What?” I say sharply. “Mom, I told you, I’m never going back there.”
“Briar, listen to me. I called the registrar’s office and explained your situation. They said they’d let you enroll next semester, and you can pick right back up where you left off since you haven’t been gone all that long?—”
“Mom. Stop.” My hard, sharp tone echoes against the walls. A panicked feeling courses through me. All my muscles tense. My whole body feels on edge just thinking about going back there.
“I told you that I’m never, ever going back to that school as long as Logan is there.”
“Briar, you can’t let a silly little breakup derail your future,” she says. “You worked so hard to get into Chicago University. You’ll be able to make so many connections there for your career—way more than you’ll make in Denver. Chicago is a bigger city with more international connections, which is perfect because you’re studying foreign languages?—”
“I’m not going back to Chicago,” I snap.
She’s quiet for a long moment. “I’m so disappointed in you, Briar.”
I let out a sad, weak laugh as tears fall down my cheeks. “Join the club.”
I hang up and fall back against the wall. I wipe my face with my sleeves, wishing I could jump in a time machine and redo every single stupid thing I’ve ever done.
I’d never say yes to going out with Logan. I’d never say yes to going to that party with him.
I’d never say yes to going upstairs to that empty bedroom with him…
Maybe then my parents wouldn’t be so disappointed in me. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so stupid and worthless.
Blake’s soft, gentle voice cuts through my thoughts.
“Hey.”
Chapter 8
Blake
Isee Briar slumped against the wall in this dark hallway, tears streaming down her face, looking so small and broken.
Worry surges through me like a tidal wave, leveling my insides.
I go up to her and cup her face in my hands.
“What happened?” I ask, unable to hide the urgency from my voice.
She gazes up at me, her big green eyes red from crying.
My chest aches like it’s on the verge of cracking in half. I hate seeing her so sad.
Urgency rockets through me. I need to make her feel better. Whatever upset her, whatever made her cry like this, I need to find out what it was so I can make it disappear forever.
She sniffles. “I got into an argument with my mom. She wants me to go back to Chicago and enroll again.”
Panic zooms through me at the thought of her leaving.
“I told her no. There’s no way I’m going back there,” she says.
I let out a slow, quiet breath of relief, then I feel like a jerk for even focusing on that because right now, my focus should be on her and making her feel better.
I drop my hands from her face and hug my arms around her. She slides her small arms around me.
For a while, I don’t say anything. When Briar’s upset, she doesn’t like to be peppered with questions. She just wants quiet support, which I always try to give her.
She nuzzles her face in my chest, and I squeeze her tight.
