CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT #2
“Look, Freckles,” I say, angling my body toward her.
“I wanna talk about something that’s been on my mind for a while.
” She sucks in a breath, and even though I hate how uncomfortable this is, we’ll never move past this unless we talk about it.
“You were right.” Plain and simple. She looks at me suspiciously.
“We don’t know a lot about each other anymore.
” I sigh. “I knew twelve-year-old Bianca like the back of my hand, but these days, I’m still learning the new Bianca.
” She looks up and I continue. “I’ve been learning about how much you love animals and that’s why you volunteer at the shelter.
You really wanna become the best vet for them.
Learning how even now you still love looking up at the stars and tracing the constellations with your finger.
” She laughs at that, and I look at her, smiling.
“Realizing that something happened in Philly, and it’s why you used to wear a lot of makeup at first. I could go on forever, Bianca.
I know we have so much to discover about each other, and I know it was dumb of me to think we could push away those years apart.
To think we could get over five whole years of no contact when we were attached at the hip.
” Then, with a little bit of courage, I fully open the can of worms.
“That game, five years ago, was probably one of the hardest I had. I was still new, and Coach called me in since Andrew was injured. I was out of my mind nervous, I mean, it was all on me. The guys invited me out after the win, and I promised to be there for a bit, but then one thing led to another.” I sigh.
“I’m sorry, I lost track of time, I wasn’t planning on standing you up.
” She shakes her head, but I hold her hands as I look into her forgiving eyes.
“I blew it, I know, and I’m so sorry you were waiting for hours for my call.
But then, you said I was leaving you behind .
. . That I was replacing you with football when it was the only thing keeping me afloat after you left.
I was like a robot for most of the day, yet our phone calls brought me right back.
You lit up my life, and when you left, you took that light with you. ”
She covers her mouth, a slight sob echoing, and I hate the sad look in her eyes.
“Then, we fought, and when I tried to talk to you, the phone call didn’t go through, and that’s when I knew . . .” I trail off, inhaling shakily. “Some friend I was.”
She puts her hand over mine. “Stop.” I look up once again.
“You’re not the only one at fault. I blocked you out of hurt because you didn’t talk to me for a couple days after.
But when I undid it, I never got anything, so I thought you were done with me.
” I shake my head, appalled that she thought I would ever be done with her.
“I know that now, but I was hurt, Liam. You didn’t talk to me about anything you were feeling.
I would always ask how you felt when I moved away, and you would always say you were so happy for me.
I guess, I felt you didn’t miss me as much as I missed you each and every day. ”
She sighs, turning to face me fully . “Then, on my birthday, I thought you’d forgotten about me, and I lashed out.
I know what football meant for you at the time now, and I’m sorry .
. . I’m sorry I blocked you and you thought it was me cutting you off.
I’m so sorry.” Her voice cracks and my heart splinters at that.
Shaking my head, I wipe a tear from her cheek.
I wrap her in my arms, hugging her even though we’re both hurting, and she tries to push me away.
“Get off, Liam,” she begs, but I stay hugging her.
She calms down and hugs me, fully embracing me.
Her sobs echo in my head and I rub my hand up and down her back.
I whisper that it isn’t her fault over and over.
We were dumb kids afraid of getting our hearts broken.
She sniffles, and I hope this hug conveys everything I feel for this girl.
My Bianca. My darling Freckles.
She pulls back and we look at each other, our hearts bleeding.
“Liam, I promise you with everything I’ve got, I really didn’t mean to make you feel left behind. I’m sorry I didn’t hear you out like I should’ve. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for back then, and I’m sorry for right now.”
I nod. “I’m sorry I inadvertently made you feel that way too.
It was never ever my intention. And I’m sorry for acting like a jerk when we saw each other again.
I was upset. I thought if I kept you at arm’s length, you wouldn’t hurt me again.
Turns out, we were hurting each other,” I say, and she nods solemnly.
She leans against my shoulder. “Some friends we are, huh?”
I chuckle lightly, threading my fingers with hers like I used to always do.
“On the road to being the best again.” She smiles, and I look down as she glances up at me.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” Her smile widens.
Her eyes are a bit red, her makeup still intact, and even if it weren’t, she would still be the most beautiful girl in the world to me.
“I guess I am, huh?” she retorts, and we both laugh at each other, and at this moment, the fact is confirmed.
I have always been, and will always be, head over heels, irrevocably in love with Bianca Everly Harrison.