CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Bee woke with swollen eyes and a headache that made her feel as though she had cried herself into dehydration. Maya was stretched across the other half of the bed like she had moved in sometime during the night. Snack wrappers, tissues, and a half-finished bottle of water cluttered the nightstand.
Bee tried to remember when crying had finally turned into sleep, but the memory blurred. For a few seconds, she forgot why Maya was there. Then the argument at Wes’s house came back fast. The words maybe we need space settled into her chest before she fully opened her eyes.
Her phone buzzed on the dresser, but Bee did not move toward it. She stayed beneath the blanket, staring at the ceiling as though she could delay reality by refusing to reach for the screen.
Maya opened one eye. “If that’s another person asking if you’re okay, I’m throwing your phone out the window.”
“You’re very aggressive in the morning,” Bee muttered.
“I slept next to someone who stole all the blankets,” Maya said.
“I was emotionally unstable,” Bee replied.
“That does not excuse blanket theft,” Maya said.
Bee almost smiled, but the phone buzzed again. Two notifications so close together made her stomach tighten, and Maya noticed immediately. She pushed herself upright and looked toward the dresser.
“Is it him?” Maya asked.
“I don’t know,” Bee said.
“You know,” Maya replied.
Bee finally reached for the phone. Wes’s name was on the screen, followed by two messages sent less than a minute apart.
Wes: Can we talk?
Wes: Please. I really need to talk to you.
Relief and fear hit Bee at the same time. She stared at the words until they blurred slightly.
“What did he say?” Maya asked.
“He wants to talk,” Bee replied.
“Do you want to?” Maya asked.
“Of course I want to,” Bee said.
“That’s not what I asked,” Maya replied.
Bee frowned, but Maya was already twisting the cap off a bottle of water. She took a drink before looking back at Bee.
“Do you actually want to talk to him right now?” Maya asked. “Do you miss him so much that you’ll take whatever he gives you because he finally texted?”
“That was unnecessarily accurate,” Bee said.
“I had a lot of sugar last night. I’m very wise now,” Maya replied.
Bee pulled the blanket higher over her legs. She could already imagine how easy it would be to type that she wanted to see him. She knew how quickly she would fold if he asked.
“I miss him,” Bee whispered.
“I know,” Maya said softly.
“I hate this,” Bee said.
“I know,” Maya repeated.
Bee swallowed and stared at her hands. The ache in her chest felt even worse now that she knew Wes wanted to talk.
“What if he wants to fix it?” Bee asked.
“Then wanting to fix it should still be true tomorrow,” Maya said.
Bee looked at her, and Maya shrugged. Her expression made it clear that she was not going to let Bee rush into anything simply because Wes had finally reached out.
“You don’t have to run back just because he finally texted,” Maya said.
Bee stared at the screen for another long moment. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard several times before she finally typed her response.
Bee: I’m not ready to talk yet. I need some time.
She read it three times before sending it, and her chest tightened the second the message disappeared. Bee lowered the phone and stared at the empty space where her words had been.
“I sent it,” Bee whispered.
“Good,” Maya said.
“It doesn’t feel good,” Bee replied.
“It probably isn’t supposed to,” Maya said.
Bee dropped the phone beside her and covered her face with both hands. Her entire body felt tense as she waited to see whether Wes would answer.
“I hate healthy decisions,” Bee said.
“They’re terrible,” Maya agreed.
The phone buzzed again, and Bee looked immediately. Wes had already answered.
Wes: Okay. I’ll wait.
Bee stared at the single word, disappointed even though she had asked him to give her time. She hated herself for wishing he had fought harder. Then she hated herself again for knowing that was what she had asked him not to do.
“What?” Maya asked.
“He said okay,” Bee replied.
“You asked for time,” Maya reminded her.
“I know,” Bee said.
“So he gave you time,” Maya said.
“I know,” Bee repeated.
Maya stared at her. “You wanted him to ignore you?”
“No,” Bee said.
“Yes,” Maya replied.
“No,” Bee insisted.
“A little?” Maya asked.
Bee dropped her head against the pillow. “A little.”
“Heartbreak makes people stupid,” Maya said.
“Thank you,” Bee replied.
“You’re welcome,” Maya said.
Bee tried to pretend she was not thinking about Wes’s message for the next few hours.
She showered, changed into clean clothes, ate breakfast with Maya and Grandma, and even answered a few comments on her video without checking his account.
By early afternoon, she almost believed she was doing better, but the sound of a vehicle outside pulled her attention toward the window.
Bee froze before slowly walking toward the window. A familiar SUV was parked near the house, and Wes was getting out of the passenger seat while his mother waited behind the wheel. Bee’s stomach dropped so fast that she grabbed the curtain for balance.
“Maya,” Bee whispered.
Maya was beside her instantly. She looked outside, saw Wes, and immediately understood.
“I told him I needed time,” Bee said quietly.
“I know,” Maya replied.
“Why is he here?” Bee asked.
“I don’t know,” Maya said.
Bee watched him close the passenger door carefully. His shoulder was still in the sling, and he moved slower than usual, but he was already walking toward the house.
“You don’t have to let him in,” Maya said.
“I can’t leave him standing outside,” Bee replied.
“You absolutely can,” Maya said.
“Maya,” Bee warned her.
“I’m just saying,” Maya replied.
A knock sounded at the door, and Bee’s heart started pounding. Maya stayed beside her as Bee stared toward the front of the house.
“You said you needed time,” Maya reminded her.
“I know,” Bee said.
“You’re allowed to mean it,” Maya said.
Bee nodded. “Stay.”
“I wasn’t going anywhere,” Maya replied.
Bee crossed the room and opened the door. Wes stood on the porch, watching her with an expression she could not read.
For a moment, the sight of him almost erased everything else.
Bee wanted to reach for him and check whether he was hurting.
She wanted to ask if he had taken his medication.
She wanted to tell him she had missed him so badly that she had cried herself to sleep.
Instead, she held the door and looked at him.
“Hi,” Wes said.
“Hi,” Bee replied.
“Can I come in?” Wes asked.
Bee hesitated before stepping aside. “Okay.”
Wes entered slowly and immediately noticed Maya at the kitchen table. His expression shifted for a second, and both Bee and Maya caught it.
“Hey, Wes,” Maya said.
“Hey,” Wes replied.
Grandma stayed near the counter. She gave Wes a small nod before returning to what she was doing. Bee knew her well enough to understand that she was listening to every word without stepping in.
Wes looked at Bee. “Can we talk?”
Bee folded her arms loosely across herself. “I told you I needed time.”
“I know,” Wes said.
“It’s been like four hours,” Bee pointed out.
“I know,” Wes repeated.
“Then why are you here?” Bee asked.
Wes glanced toward Maya before looking back at Bee. “Because I don’t want to do this over text.”
Bee frowned. “I didn’t say we had to do anything over text.”
“You said you weren’t ready to talk,” Wes replied.
“I’m not,” Bee said.
“Bee, please,” Wes said.
Maya shifted slightly in her chair. Bee looked at her quickly, but Maya stayed quiet. Wes noticed the exchange anyway.
“Can we talk alone?” Wes asked.
Bee looked toward Maya. “She can stay.”
Wes’s jaw tightened. “I came here to talk to you.”
“I’m right here,” Bee replied.
“I don’t want an audience,” Wes said.
Maya started to stand. “I can go into the other room.”
“No,” Bee said quickly.
Maya stopped and looked at her. Bee turned back toward Wes without lowering her arms.
“She stayed with me last night,” Bee said.
Something changed in Wes’s face. “Why?”
Bee stared at him. “Why do you think?”
Wes shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“I fell apart after I left your house,” Bee said.
Wes looked down for a moment. His shoulders lowered slightly as her words settled over him.
“I didn’t know,” Wes said.
“No. You didn’t,” Bee replied.
“I tried to call you,” Wes said.
“This morning,” Bee added, her voice flat.
“I didn’t know what to say before that,” Wes said.
Bee let out a slow breath. “That’s always the problem.”
Wes looked back at her. “What does that mean?”
“You say things that hurt me, and then you don’t even know what to say afterward,” Bee explained.
“I was angry,” Wes said.
“Yeah, I know,” Bee replied quietly.
“I’m still angry,” Wes added.
Bee nodded slowly. “I can tell.”
Wes rubbed his good hand against his thigh. His frustration was already showing, and Bee felt herself tense in response.
“I don’t know what you expect from me,” Wes said. “I’m trying.”
“I didn’t ask you to come here,” Bee replied.
“That’s exactly what I mean,” Wes said.
Bee frowned. “What?”
Wes let out a frustrated breath. “You say you want me, then you tell me to stay away.”
“I never told you to stay away forever,” Bee said quickly.
“You said you needed time,” Wes replied.
“Yes,” Bee said.
“How much time is that supposed to be?” Wes asked.
Bee stared at him. “More than four hours.”
Maya looked down at the table, but Bee could tell she was listening closely. Wes glanced toward her again, and this time the irritation on his face was harder to hide.
“Would we even be having this conversation like this if she wasn’t here?” Wes asked.
Bee’s expression changed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m asking,” Wes said.
“No, you’re implying something,” Bee replied.
Wes let out a frustrated breath. “I’m saying maybe we could actually talk if it was just us.”
Maya pushed back from the table and stood. She looked directly at Wes before responding.
“I’m not telling Bee what to say,” Maya said.
Wes’s eyes flicked toward her. “I wasn’t talking to you.”