25. Audrey
— ? —
Audrey
Griffith’s call comes three days later.
I’m sitting in the rental’s tiny kitchen, scrolling through job listings on my laptop - something I’ve been doing a lot since the texts went public. Not because I’m planning to leave, but because I need to feel like I have options. Like my life isn’t completely out of my control.
When his name lights up my phone, I hesitate for only a moment before answering.
“Griffith. Hi.”
“Audrey.” His voice is warm, concerned. “I heard what happened. I wanted to check in.”
“That’s kind of you.”
“How are you holding up?”
How am I holding up? I’ve been asked that question a hundred times this week - by Ruth, by my mother on the phone, by the grocery store cashier who clearly read the posts and couldn’t quite meet my eyes.
“I’m okay,” I say. “Really. It’s been hard on Lily, but we’re getting through it.”
“And Rowan?”
I pause. “What about him?”
“I just-” Griffith sighs. “I’m not trying to stir anything up. But that post painted a pretty damning picture. And I wanted you to know that my offer still stands.”
“Portland.”
“Portland. A fresh start. Away from the gossip and the judgment and-” He stops. “Away from him, if that’s what you need.”
I set down my coffee cup, considering.
Three weeks ago, this offer might have tempted me. Three weeks ago, I was so lost in my own pain that escape seemed like the only option. A new city, a new life, a chance to rebuild without the constant reminder of everything Rowan had broken.
But three weeks ago, I hadn’t stood on a cliff in a storm and demanded that he fight for me.
Three weeks ago, I hadn’t felt him worship my body like I was something sacred.
Three weeks ago, Lily hadn’t asked her father if he was doing a good job and actually believed him when he said he was trying.
“Griffith,” I say carefully, “you’ve been incredibly kind. The way you’ve looked out for me, the options you’ve offered - I can’t tell you how much it’s meant.”
“I sense a ‘but’ coming.”
“But I’m not going to Portland.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Because of him?”
“Because of me.” I take a breath. “I spent a long time being angry. And hurt. And scared. And during all of that, I kept thinking about what I wanted - what would make me happy, what would give me peace.”
“And?”
“And I realized that running away wouldn’t give me any of those things.
It would just be trading one kind of pain for another.
” I pause, choosing my words. “Rowan broke my heart. He did something I never thought he was capable of, and it nearly destroyed us. But he’s also the only person who can put it back together. ”
“Audrey-”
“I know how that sounds. Believe me, I do.” I laugh, a little rueful.
“If someone told me six months ago that I’d be saying this, I would have thought they were crazy.
But the truth is, I love him. I’ve loved him since we were seventeen.
And I’m not ready to give up on that - not when he’s finally fighting for it too. ”
Griffith is silent for a long moment.
“He’s lucky,” he says finally. “I hope he knows that.”
“He’s starting to.”
“And if he ever makes you feel unlucky-”
“You’ll be the first person I call.” I mean it, too. “But I don’t think I’ll need to.”
“Okay.” He sighs, and I can hear him accepting it - gracefully, without drama. “For what it’s worth, Audrey, I think you’re making the right choice. Not because of him, but because of you. You know what you want. That’s rare.”
“I didn’t always.”
“You do now. That’s what matters.” A pause. “Take care of yourself. And if you ever need anything - a meal, a conversation, a friend - you know where to find me.”
“I do. Thank you, Griffith. For everything.”
“Goodbye, Audrey.”
“Goodbye.”
I hang up and sit in the quiet kitchen, phone in my hand, feeling something settle in my chest.
I made a choice.
Not by default. Not because I had no other options. But because, after everything, this is what I want.
The door opens and Rowan walks in, grocery bags in hand. He stops when he sees my expression.
“Everything okay?”
“Griffith called.”
His face tightens almost imperceptibly. “Oh?”
“He offered Portland again. One last time.”
“And?”
I stand, cross to him, take the grocery bags and set them on the counter.
“I told him no.”
Rowan exhales - a long, shaky breath, like he’s been holding it for weeks.
“Why?”
“Because I choose you.” I take his face in my hands, make him look at me. “You broke my heart, Rowan. You broke it in ways I didn’t know were possible. But you’re still the only person I want to rebuild with.”
“Even after everything?”
“Because of everything.” I kiss him softly. “Now help me put away the groceries. Ruth’s party is in two days and I still need to find something to wear.”
He laughs - surprised, relieved, a little incredulous - and wraps his arms around me.
“I love you,” he says into my hair. “Have I mentioned that today?”
“Twice. But I don’t mind hearing it again.”
“I love you. I love you. I love you.” He punctuates each repetition with a kiss. “Is that enough?”
“It’s a start.”
We put away the groceries together, moving around each other in the tiny kitchen like we’ve done a thousand times before. Like nothing has changed and everything has.
I made a choice.
And for the first time in months, I don’t regret it.