Chapter Thirteen
I hate this so goddamn much. I know we have to do things this way because we have to make sure we haven’t influenced her for the last six weeks.
We involved emotion more than we should have, and that could be damaging.
If she reaches out, it’s for a reason. If she wants a clean break, she wants space.
I don’t know if I’m capable of giving her space, though.
I walk outside and see Thane in his truck. I can see the way his body shakes, and I know the send-off went horribly. I had things to do, so I couldn’t be with them. I wanted to be, though.
I pull Thane’s door open, and he is crying. I’ve never seen this man cry. Ever. “Hey,” I say gently. I pull on him, and he gives in and lets me get him out of the truck. I immediately hug him, and his body vibrates as he sobs. “She just needs time, Thane.”
“She basically told us to go fuck ourselves, Reid,” Thane says, pulling back to wipe his face.
“Thane, she's fucking terrified, man. She is entering the real world, and she has literally no one. No friends. No family. We didn’t talk about a future between all of us because we didn’t want her to become codependent on us. She has to do this on her own. We both know this,” I explain.
“Watching her drive away is the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever done,” Thane says. “I don’t know how I’ll do this.”
“Day by day,” I tell him. “Let her explore the world, and if she wants a future with us, she will make it known.”
“It’s been an hour, and I’m a mess.”
“I wish I had been here. I think that would have made it worse, though,” I say. “She will reach out, Thane. I promise. I don’t even give her a day, and she will text for some…”
I don’t even get the words out of my mouth, and both our phones ring to notify us of a text. Pulling it from my pocket, I see it’s Ayla.
Ayla:
I forgot my journal… I’ll come back for it soon.
Me:
I’m staying with Thane now, so we will keep it with us. You can drop by and get it anytime you want.
Ayla:
Thanks… I’ll get it soon so I can get out of your hair.
Me:
You’re welcome, Ayla. Anytime you need anything, we are here. Okay?
Ayla:
…okay
Thane:
Hope the drive was okay. Let us know you’re settling okay.
When she doesn’t respond, I know it’s because she’s overwhelmed.
Thane won’t see it that way, though. He thinks he’s lost her forever, but he hasn’t.
This proves it. She easily could have texted one of us.
She could have called and talked to reception.
She could have called Tabitha, but she texted us both.
She’s going to come back to us, but when… Not soon enough.