He didn’t come.
“We’re almost home,” Celeste said, squeezing my hand gently. She hadn’t let go of me the whole ride back.
But I was numb.
Flayed open and raw, bleeding out all over her fifty-thousand-dollar car.
“You know, you need to hear him out. Chloe said—”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t matter? You love him, and he loves you, Harleigh. You know he does.”
I shrugged, refusing to meet her eyes, pressing my head against the cool glass.
“Harleigh, don’t do this. You know girls like Cherri, girls like Ange…”
“You’re right,” my voice was icy cold. “I do. And that’s what I can expect if we stay together.”
“What on earth do you mean?” The gates to the estate rolled open and she pulled into the driveway, cutting the engine. “Harleigh, look at me.” Reluctantly, I did, and she added, “Talk to me. I’m begging you.”
“You know I was never strong enough to stand at his side. Not then, and definitely not now.”
“Harleigh, that’s not—”
“It is.” I sighed, a deep ache spreading through my chest. “I’m broken, Celeste. Maybe I’ll always be broken. And Nix, he’s going places. He can make it out of The Row and chase his dreams. What kind of girl would I be if I held him back with all my… my baggage.”
“He loves you.”
“Maybe love isn’t enough.”
I was pretty sure love wasn’t supposed to hurt this much. To build you up only to break you down.
“You don’t mean that.”
“All I know is I’m tired, Celeste. I’m so freaking tired. Of always second guessing everything. Of always being the girl who hides. The girl who doesn’t know how to go after what she wants. Nix deserves more. He deserves someone like Cherri—”
“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” she shrieked, silencing me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout.” Guilt shone in her eyes. “But you have no idea how lucky you are, do you?”
“Lucky? You think I’m lucky?” A bitter laugh bubbled inside me.
“No, that’s not… Look, I know you went through something awful, and I know you have a lot of stuff to work through still, but you found your way back to him, Harleigh. That has to count for something, doesn’t it? Forget about Cherri and Marc and Max and Dad and Nix’s dad… it isn’t about them. It’s about you. About what you want. About how you feel.”
“I want to go inside,” I said, dropping my gaze.
“Harleigh, just promise me you’ll hear him out.”
I barely managed a nod before pushing open the door and making a beeline for the house.
“Harleigh?” I almost walked straight into Michael. “I wasn’t expecting you back so— what happened?”
“Nothing.” I shouldered past him and headed for the stairs.
“Harleigh Wren—”
“Dad, leave it,” Celeste said as I hurried up the stairs, their voices becoming nothing but low rumbles, lost to the ringing in my ears.
The second I reached my room, I slipped inside and slammed the door, inhaling a shuddering breath.