Bonus Chapter 5
Wesley
The fluorescent lights of the grocery store cast a dull glow over the aisles, the soft hum of refrigerators and distant chatter filling the space.
I hadn’t planned on running into anyone tonight, least of all her.
But there she is—Sierra—moving effortlessly through the store, pushing a cart with Sam trailing behind her.
Two years.
That’s how long it’s been since I saw her last, since the day we all tossed our graduation caps into the air and walked away from our high school lives.
She looks just as beautiful now as she did then. Her long blonde hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, a few strands loose, framing her face. She isn’t wearing any makeup, but she doesn’t need it. Sierra always had this effortless beauty about her and that hasn’t changed.
I know I should just walk away, pretend that I didn’t see her.
But I can’t. Instead, I find myself following at a distance, watching as she absentmindedly picks out groceries, placing items in the cart while Sam chats beside her.
It’s been so long since I’ve been able to see her, to be close to her, that I can’t let this moment pass.
How did I let things get to this point? There wasn’t a single day that passed where I didn’t regret what I did—what I failed to do.
If I’d just talked to her back then, really talked to her.
If I had just listened to what she had to say, then maybe things would’ve been different.
Maybe I wouldn’t be standing here, hesitating, debating whether I even had the right to speak to her.
Instead, I could’ve been with her. Have her in my arms, planning our lives together.
Hell, we could even be engaged at this point.
Then, just as I’m about to turn away and put myself out of my misery, she looks up.
Her eyes lock on mine, and for a moment, neither of us move, both frozen in place as we stare at each other. My breath catches in my throat and I feel as if I’m going to pass out. I expect anger, maybe even hatred in her eyes, but all I see is indifference.
That hurts more than her reflecting no emotion at all.
Taking a deep breath, I step forward. “Hey, Sierra.” I wave awkwardly, trying to break the tension between us.
Her expression doesn’t change. “Wesley.”
“How are you doing?” I ask, forcing my voice to stay steady. “How’s school?”
“It’s going good,” she answers with a small nod. “It’s different from high school, and it’s hard being away from Sam, but we make sure to video call a lot. Other than that, it’s been amazing.”
I smile in understanding. “Yeah, it’s hard to be away from family.”
She hesitates for a moment, opening then closing her mouth before adding, “How’s your mom?”
“She’s doing good. She’s dating again,” I admit, rubbing my hand along the back of my neck. “I met him last night. He seems like a really nice guy—a huge contrast to my, um…” My throat tightens, and I can’t bring myself to finish. I can’t say his name. Not after what he did to her. To my mom.
Sierra seems to understand. She doesn’t press me for more, just gives me a slight nod.
Not wanting to say anymore about my dad, but unsure of what else to talk about, I ask a question I’ve been dying to know. “How are you and the guys? Are you still together?”
“We are,” she says, a small smile playing on her lips. “And we’re doing great.”
I swallow hard, debating my next words. It’s now or never. “Do you ever think about us?” I ask quietly. “What we could’ve been if things hadn’t happened the way they did?”
Sierra blinks, her expression unreadable. Then, she turns to Sam. “Sweetie, why don’t you go pick out some ice cream? I’ll meet you over there in a few minutes.”
“Okay! Bye Wesley,” Sam gives me a smile and waves before skipping toward the freezer section.
Sierra turns back to me, her gaze sharp. “What are you doing, Wesley?”
I frown, unsure of her response. “What do you mean?”
“Asking me a question like that,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
I inhale deeply. “I love you, Sierra. I always have.”
She bursts out laughing, her hands holding her stomach as if I had just told the funniest joke in the world. But there is no humor in her eyes. Only pain.
“Really?” she barks. “You love me so much that you made me the pariah of the school? You made my life utter hell, all because of something you thought you saw?” She shakes her head. “Yeah, I loved you once, Wesley. But not anymore.”
Her words cut deeper than I expected. “Sierra—”
“No Wesley. What you did to me hurt me. It hurt Sam,” she interrupts, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I can’t love someone who could be that cruel.
So, to answer your question, no. I don’t think about you.
Or what could’ve been.” She pauses before adding, “I’m happy with my life and the people in it. They’ve shown me what real love is.”
I clench my jaw, feeling the weight of her words press against my chest like a boulder.
Then, just as she starts to walk away, she stops and turns back one last time.
“I guess I can thank you for that,” her voice is soft.
“If you hadn’t made my life hell, I might have never met them.
Your change of heart comes a little too late.
While I’m glad you changed, it doesn’t fix what happened between us.
I do hope you find happiness one day. Just don’t fuck up with her like you did with me. ”
And with that, she walks away, leaving me standing there alone.
Losing Sierra was the biggest regret of my life, and I only have myself to blame.