Page 34 of Always Us

“Nothing. So how are your parents?”

“What were you saying about Sean?”

“I’m not going to do this, Harper.”

“Do what?”

“I’m not going to tell you stuff about Sean now that you two are broken up. It will just make you sad, and you both need to move on.”

“Please just tell me if he’s okay.” She sniffles. I think she’s cried almost nonstop since they broke up.

“He’s okay.”

“Is he really, or are you just saying that?”

“He just needs some time.”

She sniffles again. “I can’t do this, Jade.”

“Can’t do what?”

“I can’t be without him. I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself. I didn’t realize how much I loved him until I didn’t have him anymore. I kept telling myself that something was missing. That he wasn’t the one. I guess because my parents didn’t approve of him. But now that he’s gone, I realize I made the biggest mistake of my life by letting him go. I know that he’s the one, Jade. I know it now. I know it with all my heart.”

Now she figures this out? Now? When she can’t have him?

“You’ll find someone else. Maybe not for a while but—”

“Jade, didn’t you hear me? I don’t want anyone else. I want Sean.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I want him back.”

“What about your parents?”

“I’m not speaking to them. Let them disown me. I don’t care. I don’t need their money. I’ll get a job to pay for college. After everything they’ve put me through, I’m not even sure I want them in my life anymore.”

“Harper, I know you don’t mean that. You’re really close to your parents.”

“Not anymore. They lied to me, Jade. They said they’d support me in whatever I wanted to do. They always told my sisters and me that all they wanted was for us to be happy. And they know that being with Sean is what makes me happy. Happier than I’ve ever been. And yet they’re still trying to take him away from me. They know how much I love Sean and they don’t care. I had a huge fight with them last night.”

“You did? With both of them?”

“Yes, and it was really bad. There was screaming and yelling and then my dad stormed out of the room and my mom followed him. I’m done, Jade. I love my parents, but I can’t let them do this to me. They have no reason to. I’ve asked them a million times why they don’t like Sean and the only thing they can come up with is that he’s not right for me. And they can’t explain why. So I’m done trying to please them. I’m getting Sean back.”

“But you just left Sean a goodbye message.” Damn! I did it again. Why can’t I keep my mouth shut?

“How do you know about that? Did you talk to Sean today?”

I sigh. “Yes, but we didn’t talk long.”

“I’m calling him as soon as we hang up. I’m going to apologize to him a million times or however many times it takes for him to forgive me.”

“He won’t take your calls, Harper.”

“Then I’ll go to his apartment as soon as I get back in town. I’ll surprise him.” Her voice sounds happy just saying it.

“You can’t. He won’t—” I seriously need to stop talking.

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