Page 31 of What If We Do

“So, alright, you like the guy. Did he seem to share the same feelings?”

“I think so…but Maria what if I’m so off on this one? What if I put myself out there again only to have him break my heart? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I fear if that were to happen, it could hurt worse than Mark.”

“Ouch,” she replies. “For Mark I mean.”

I huff out a laugh. “Yeah well, the truth hurts sometimes.”

“It does. And you just answered your own question. The truth can hurt sometimes, but you’ll never actually know the truth if you don’t put yourself out there and try. I mean honestly, Scarlett, he’s not that far from L.A. You could potentially make it work.”

A twinge of hope sparks in my chest.

Is it really possible?

“Do you think?”

“Uh, relationships have been built with a lot further distance between them before, so yes. Absolutely. You just need to convince yourself to jump in with both feet instead of keeping one dry just in case.”

Jumping in with both feet.

Oh, my God.

That’s what Rowena said too.

What if…

Could we…

I won’t know if I don’t try.

Live, Scarlett.

Swiping any residual tears from my eyes, I sit up on my bed and notice my trashed wedding dress in a heap on the floor. My plan was always to trash it and burn it, but now the more I look at it, another idea floats through my head.

“Alright, Maria. I think I’m going to go for it.”

“That’s my girl! Whatever you do, you’ve got this, Babe. You can do hard things! Trust me, you would much rather regret the chances you were brave enough to take than regret the ones you never took because you were too scared to take them.”

“Exactly. I’ve got to go. I have a plan to make.”

Maria gasps, startling me. “Holy shiiiiit.”

“What? What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Uh, Scarlett?”

“Yeah?”

“Have you been on social today?”

“Not since this morning, why? Oh God. Was Mark having an affair this whole time? Am I now the laughingstock of social media? What kind of damage control am I going to have to do?”

“Negative on all that, babe. It’s good news. I won’t bother telling you, but when you hang up, I would check in if I were you.”

“Uh, okay.”

“Love you babe. Good luck with your plan. Call me if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Maria. I’ll update you later!”

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