Page 61 of Always Us

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

15

JADE

My phone has been going off nonstop since class started. I set it to vibrate and put it in my bag on the floor but I feel it going off against my foot. I know it’s Harper. I had three messages from her when I woke up this morning, but I couldn’t call her back because I got up late and didn’t have time to talk. I texted her and told her I’d call her after class but I guess that’s not soon enough.

She’s calling because she wants to talk about Sean. She got back to Connecticut last night, and knowing her, she went to his apartment as soon as she got off the plane. I told her not to, but I knew she wouldn’t listen. I’m hoping Sean wasn’t there, because if he was, it’ll just make this harder for both of them.

Class ends and I go outside and find a bench to sit on. I call her and hear her voice before the phone even rings. How is that possible?

“Jade?” She’s sniffling. I bet she hasn’t stopped crying since I talked to her last. “He’s gone.”

“I’m sorry, Harper.” It’s all I can say. I’ve said it so many times now it sounds meaningless. “But he had to leave. He needs that job.”

“I know he does. And I’m so proud of him.” She sounds happy and sad at the same time. “That place he’ll be working at is one of the nicest restaurants in LA. All the celebrities go there.” She sniffles again. “He’s going to be so great there. I bet he’ll be head chef in a few months.”

“Yeah, I bet he will.” I try to steer her off the topic of Sean. “So what happened with your parents? Are you talking to them now?”

“No. I haven’t spoken to them in days.”

“Harper, this silent treatment can’t go on forever. Maybe you should talk to them.”

“I’m not ready to. I’m still too angry with them. They’re not the people I thought they were. They used to be nice to everyone. It didn’t matter if the person had money or not. They didn’t care. And now suddenly they’ve turned into these parents who only want me to date rich guys they pick out for me.” She pauses. “I don’t want to talk about my parents. I called because I wanted to tell you I went to Sean’s place last night.”

“Wasn’t he gone?”

“He had everything packed, but he didn’t leave until this morning.”

“Did you talk to him?”

She takes a moment to answer. “We did more than talk.”

“What? Harper! You had—” A guy sits down next to me on the bench. Can’t he see I’m trying to talk here? I take my backpack and walk over to a different bench. “You had sex with Sean?”

“I know. It’s bad, isn’t it? But it’s what we both wanted and it just kind of happened.”

“How did you—” I try to figure out how to phrase this. “You had surgery last week.”

“Only on my shoulder. There are many ways to do it, Jade.”

“Yeah. Got it. So you did it? And then what?”

“I talked to him and told him how I felt. I told him I made a huge mistake and I apologized over and over again. Then I told him I knew about his job and that I was happy for him. After we talked, I didn’t want to go back to the dorm and I knew he didn’t want me to, so I spent the night there.” She sniffles. “This morning he told me he loves me but that it’s over and not to call him again. He said he won’t be able to move on if we stay in touch.”

“I know this sucks, Harper. What can I do?”

“Nothing. There’s nothing anyone can do. Last night was our goodbye. Now I just have to try to move on.”

“You will. It just takes time. Maybe I could fly out there some weekend. We’ll shop, go to the movies, whatever you want.”

“Will you be out here for the funeral?”

Funeral? I haven’t seen the news all day and Garret didn’t send me any updates. Maybe it just happened.

“Did Holton die?” I ask her.

“No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that. It’s just that the news makes it sound like he could pass away any day now so I just assumed the funeral will be soon.”

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