Chapter Twenty-One
Sadie
I’d stayed at the University of Georgia through the summer a couple of years in order to get back on track after taking two semesters off following the horrible, humiliating breakup with Harrison.
But the summer after graduating college, I was home and free.
It was fantastic. All my friends were home, and we took full advantage of what we knew would probably be our last summer of carefree fun before starting our careers.
One day, I hurried into my parents’ house after spending most of the afternoon laying out by the pool at Carrie’s house.
“Hey, y’all,” I said as I flew up the stairs.
“I’m going to take a shower and then head back out.
We’re going to have a cookout over at Melinda’s tonight.
Y’all are invited, of course.” I stopped and turned on the stairs.
“Oh, Mom? They wanted me to ask if you’d bring your chocolate chip cookies…
” I trailed off as I saw Harrison sitting in the family room with my parents.
I gaped at him for a moment before I was able to speak. “What are you doing here?”
He flinched. I hadn’t meant for my words to come out quite so sharply, but he took me by surprise.
“Honey, if you don’t want him here, I told him he’d have to leave,” my dad said. He looked very much like he’d love to kick Harrison’s ass. I was pretty sure my mom must be keeping that from happening.
Of course I didn’t want him in my house. I stared at him. Why the hell did he think he’d be welcome here?
He cleared his throat. “Sadie, I’d like to talk with you if you’ll give me a few minutes.”
I started walking back down the stairs slowly.
“I’ll get lemonade,” my mom said with a reserved smile.
“Thank you, Mrs. Summers…”
“No!”
Everyone jumped, and I realized I’d shouted.
“No,” I said more calmly. “Don’t get lemonade, Mom.” I gestured for Harrison to get up and follow me. “Harrison was just leaving. I’ll walk him out.”
“I can handle that for you, pumpkin.”
I smiled at my dad. “I’ve got this, Dad. Don’t worry.”
He nodded and glared at Harrison.
Harrison looked taken aback by my poor reception of him. I don’t know why. I’d blocked him in every way I could right after the breakup and hadn’t been in touch with him since.
I heard his steps behind me as I made my way to the door.
I was suddenly very aware that I was only wearing a bikini top and cut-offs.
I wished I’d thrown a T-shirt on, but the car had been flaming hot when I’d gotten in.
It hadn’t had a chance to cool off on the short trip from Carrie’s house to mine, either.
I waited until the door closed behind him before turning to look at him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He looked alarmed. “Um… I just wanted a chance to apologize in person and to try to talk with you about some things.”
I blinked at him. “After two years? I mean, I think you said everything you had to say right after it happened.”
“No. Those apologies sucked,” he shook his head, running a hand through his thick hair. “I wasn’t myself, Sadie. And I’m so sorry.”
“Who were you?”
“What?”
“If you were someone else, who were you?” I folded my arms over my chest.
He looked pensive. “I was messed up. The instant fame went to my head, and I handled it horribly. You were a casualty of all of that. I regret it more than you’ll ever know.”
He seemed sincere. The problem was that I just didn’t give a shit. “I’m glad you’ve done some soul searching and figured things out.”
“Well, I’m in therapy.”
My eyes widened. I hadn’t expected to hear that. “That’s… really great. Good for you.” I gave him a small smile. “I had to go to therapy after what happened, too. It helped me tremendously.”
His face fell, and he looked at his feet. “I’m sorry you had to go because of me.”
“It wasn’t just you. But you were a large part of it.”
His eyes came back up to mine, and I was brutally reminded of how attractive he was. I looked away and cleared my throat. “I’m glad you’re coming to terms with how you changed during that time. Now it’s time for you to go.”
“Wait. Is that it? Do you think we could… at least be friends?”
“The truth is that I don’t like you enough to want you as a friend. What you did ruined my opinion of you.”
He stepped back like I’d hit him. “Do you still hate me, then?”
“Yes.” Therapy had taught me it was okay to be blunt.
I didn’t have to please everyone. It wasn’t my job to make sure everyone around me was happy at the expense of my own mental health.
“I’m working towards getting over that because hate and holding a grudge against you will only hurt me in the long run, not you.
I know that. I want to forgive you one day, Harrison.
But I never want to be friends with you again. ”
He nodded, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “I understand. I… I won’t bother you again. Take care, Sadie. I hope you have a beautiful life.”
“Thank you,” I said and turned to walk inside.
I felt his eyes on me the whole way.