Page 146 of Come Back to Me

Sage picks out one of the mini bags of sour candy, ripping it open.

“Thank you for not telling meI told you so.”

“I don’t believe saying that to someone is productivebecause most of the time it makes them feel worse than they already do.” She drops a sour candy in her mouth and swallows it. “Did he say anything about never talking to you again?”

I lift an eyebrow. “Well, no.”

“I think he’ll come around, but it’s going to take some time. For now, try to focus on your classes, work, and your business. It’s important to throw yourself into something else, so you don’t wallow in sadness and endless overthinking.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“I know this is cliché as hell, but you’re going to be okay.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re strong, and you made it out the first time. You built a life for yourself. It’s not going to be easy, but you can do it again.”

“I wish I didn’t have to do it all over again.” Tears burn the inner rims of my eyes, slowly making their way down to my cheeks.

In a rare act of kindness, Sage scoots closer to me and drapes her arm around me. I never thought I’d be consoled by Sage when this moment was going to rise to the surface because I know how she gets when emotions are involved. She showed me empathy, and she listened to every word I said. I’m not taking this moment for granted in the slightest.

I don’t know how I’m going to get back to the person I was before I decided to reunite with Grayson, but I’ll find my way back to her.

I hope we’ll cross paths again one day, but I have a feeling if we do, it’ll be in an alternate universe.

now

GRAYSON

What the hell?

The former love of my life was at the hospital that day, but even after she saw me lying in a bed connected to tubes and wires, she thought it would be a good idea to disappear from me for the rest of my life.

My best friend lied straight to my face, convincing me it was the truth when it wasn’t.

My mother knew about all this and didn’t say a word to me.

It’s hard for me to accurately dissect every emotion I’m feeling right now because I’m angry, disgusted, heartbroken, upset, and annoyed all at once. Those are just a few. There are more, but I’m too mentally drained to figure out the rest of them.

I’m tempted to break my sobriety and speed over to Stingray’s because a drink sounds really good right about now.

No, we can’t go back down that road again. You’re doing so well. You can’t break your sobriety over this.

When I make it to the second floor of our apartment complex, I try my best to compose myself before I get to our front door, but I fail. The second I get inside, I go off on Noah. “You fucking lied to me!”

Noah, Dani, Xander, and Bella are sitting in theliving room. I stand in front of the TV to block their view, grabbing their full attention.

“Hi to you, too,” Noah says.

“No, don’t act like you’re the good guy here. I don’t want to hear that shit right now.”

“We have company,” Noah points out.

Dani and Bella wave at me, but they can tell how angry I am, so they stay silent.

“Oh, that’s right. I’m so sorry for interrupting your night. How’s your Halloween been? Mine is the worst one I’ve ever had in my entire life. Thanks for asking.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Xander asks me.