Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“I didn’t mean to fall for Delilah,” I told her with an apologetic look on my face.
Brianna gave me a pointed look.
“No one can help who they fall for,” she replied before stepping closer and poking me in the chest. “But if you ever break her heart again, I’m tossing you into the feed mixer.”
I couldn’t help but crack a small smile as I nodded. She meant those words, though.
“Maybe Delilah and I weren’t meant to be together back then, but I think things can work out now,” I said, hope swelling in my chest.
Brianna smiled at me and nodded in agreement.
“I believe that too. You guys were always a good match. I remember wanting to just shake the two of you because I wanted you to just admit your feelings and be together. Were you really that scared of me finding out?” she asked with a confused look on her face.
I shrugged.
“We didn’t think that you would approve,” I replied. In hindsight, that was a dumb fear, but I believed that we tried to find any excuse not to be brave and admit our feelings to each other.
Brianna rolled her eyes at me playfully.
“Dummies. I want you to be together,” she said before a serious look adorned her face. “First order of business, though. You need to go talk to Kerrie.”
I let out a slow sigh as I dragged my fingers through my hair.
“Breaking up with her is for the best,” I said. I mostly said that to myself so that I could hear the words and process them. Everyone told me that was what I should do, and I wanted to explore what I felt for Delilah. That felt right, even if there would be some pain and guilt along the way.
Delilah and I had a trend of making sacrifices for each other, and I hoped they were all worth it in the end.
“I want you to be happy, Ryder. I saw how you were after Delilah went to New York. You disappeared for weeks,” Brianna said with a frown. “That worried me.”
“I’m sorry about that. I just needed to get away,” I told her with a sincere, apologetic look on my face. I shouldn’t have done that to her, but I wasn’t thinking straight back then. All I could think about was the pain I felt over losing Delilah. “I’m not running again, though. No matter what happens.”
“I won’t say anything to Delilah. I want everything to come from you,” Brianna promised me.
I smiled and hugged her again.
“Thank you,” I said. If it wasn’t for her support and the band’s support, I didn’t know what I would do. Probably stay with Kerrie and do my damndest to ignore my feelings for Delilah.
“I’m rooting for you guys. I always have,” Brianna told me.
I hoped that I would have good news to share with her after Delilah and I talked.
When Delilah texted me saying that she was on the way back to the house, I let Brianna find a hiding spot and headed to the Kerrie’s place, stomaching my nerves and trying to think of a positive future. All I wanted was for things to work out like I hoped for them to.
But were things ever that easy?
I parked my truck and walked up to Kerrie’s front door, thumping my knuckles against the polished wood. After about ten seconds, the door was unlocked and pulled open, revealing Kerrie in going out clothes.
“Oh, hey. I’m heading out with some friends in like fifteen minutes,” Kerrie told me as she adjusted one of her dangly earrings.
I nodded as my palms and forehead threatened to grow damp. I stilled myself, though. Damn it, I was doing this. I should’ve done this a long time ago!
“This won’t take long,” I promised her.
Kerrie gave me a confused look.
“What?” she asked.
I drew in a deep breath through my nose and said the words I should’ve said when I noticed our relationship wasn’t what it should’ve been.
“We need to talk.”
Chapter 19
Amos
“I can’t believe this place is still standing.”
I couldn’t help but let out a laugh at Delilah’s comment. We stood in front of our old high school, peering at the large building where we spent four years of our lives. I was a different person from who I was when I walked through those halls, but I had a feeling that we all were.
A lot changed with time.
“We’re not that old, Delilah,” I reminded her as we lingered on the sidewalk together. We decided to take a walk down memory lane after finding an old yearbook in the ranch house from her and Ryder’s senior year in high school. I was four years older than her, but it was still cool seeing some of my old teachers.
Delilah smiled in amusement as she glanced over at me.
“It just feels like eons ago,” she said. “So much has changed.”