Chapter 16
Okay
Andi
Sunday bled into Monday, and I still hadn't texted him back.
I'd tried everything to distract myself.
I'd scrubbed every surface of my apartment until my arms ached and hauled three loads of laundry up and down the stairs—which definitely counted as cardio, even if my smartwatch disagreed.
I made dinner that I didn't eat, and meal prepped for the whole week.
I went through every streaming service I had, scrolling past movies and shows without even paying attention to what I was breezing over.
But no matter what I did, I kept feeling the tightness in my chest that wouldn't go away.
My phone sat on the coffee table. I'd turned off the sound hours ago, but I still saw the screen light up when he texted. I'd read his messages from Sunday morning—the ones asking me to breakfast—and I hadn't answered.
I picked up my phone now. Read through them again, even though I'd already memorized every word.
The last message to come through was about an hour ago.
I miss you.
Three words. Simple. True, probably.
I missed him too. But missing someone didn't fix anything.
I set the phone down and pulled my knees up to my chest. Outside, it was getting dark.
Monday evening. I'd made it through another shift at the shop, smiling at customers, pretending everything was fine.
Marcus had given me looks all day but hadn't pushed.
Bridget had texted asking if I was okay.
I'd said yes, and she'd let it go. But I wasn't okay.
My phone lit up again. I stared at it. Watched the notification slide down from the top of the screen. Three messages popped up, one right after the next. I almost didn't open them. But I had to. I couldn’t help it.
Gavin: Andi, I know you're not answering, and I understand why. I need you to know I told Rebecca about you. About us. That we've been together for six months. That you're important to me.
Gavin: I should have done this a long time ago. I know 'friend' hurt you, and I know why you haven't texted me back. I'm going to fix it. Please meet me for breakfast on Saturday morning. Let me show you I mean it. Please.
Gavin: I can’t take back my stupidity, but I can show I won’t be that stupid again.
My heart stuttered. I told Rebecca about you. About us.
I read it again. Then again. He'd told Rebecca. Actually told her. My hands were shaking. I set the phone down on the couch next to me, pressing my palms against my thighs.
He'd done something. Not just said he would—he'd actually done it. But was it enough?
I thought about our weekend away at the B&B. The morning in the window seat when I'd mentioned strawberry picking, and he'd said yes, but there'd been that pause. That tiny hesitation I'd felt but pushed away. I never pushed. I never said anything.
Instead, I’d held my feelings close and thought, June was three months away. A lot could change. It had. Just not the way I'd wanted.
Let me show you I mean it. Show, not tell. I’d asked him to show me. Prove it, I'd said. Telling his ex about me wasn’t proving it, but it didn’t hurt as a start.
I picked up my phone again. Reread the message. I should have done this a long time ago.
No shit. But he was doing it now. That had to count for something. My thumb hovered over the keyboard. I could say no. Tell him it was too late. That six months of being kept separate couldn't be fixed with one conversation over breakfast.
Or I could say yes. The thought scared me. Because saying yes meant hoping again. And hoping had gotten me here—sitting alone in my apartment with my chest tight and my eyes burning, wondering if I was enough to be seen with.
But he’d taken a step. A first step.
I'm fixing it.
Bridget's voice echoed in my head. You deserve someone who's all in. Marcus too. Not someone who keeps you in a separate box.
They were both right. I knew they were right. But what if he was actually trying? What if Saturday was him choosing to be all in?
What if I said no and never found out?
I typed before I could overthink it.
Andi: Okay. Saturday. 8am.
Hit send. Watched it turn to delivered. Then read.
My phone buzzed immediately.
Gavin: YES! Thank you. I won't let you down.
I stared at his response. Then set my phone face-down on the table and closed my eyes.
I'd said yes. Give him a chance.
Now I just had to hope I hadn't made a mistake.