Page 61 of See You at the Finish Line

“I do not. I hate him.”

“You should treat the people you love better.”

“He didn’t text me back, Leah! He forgot about me!”

The other end of the line is silent.

“What?”

“Paige.” Her voice is serious. “Think about it. Maybe he was embarrassed? Or surprised to see you? There are so many potential explanations, you really shouldn’t jump to conclusions without talking to him.”

“Why do I need to talk to him about it? Maybe I can overlook him floundering with my name, but what about completely ignoring my texts?”

“Because there’s something between you, even if you don’t want to admit it, and he deserves a second chance.”

“He’s had two years of chances. He didn’t reach out.”

“You didn’t reach out either.”

“I did—”

“After the texts you sent?”

“No, because he clearly wanted nothing to do with me. He had my number and he didn’t text me back. I would have understood if he took days, weeks, or even months after the race but henevergot in touch. I’m not going to chase after some guy, no matter how perfect he seemed to be, and I cannot believe you would ask me to stoop that low.”

I can hear the contemplative silence through the phone and know she’s rubbing her eyes in exasperation.

She sighs. “It’s not stooping low if you care about him like he obviously cares about you.”

“I don’t even know him. And he doesn’t know me.”

“I don’t believe that at all.”

“Leah, it was two days, two years ago.”

“Then let him go.”

“What?”

“Let him go. Get him out of your heart.”

“I have. I’ve dated.”

“And does it ever work?”

I sigh, knowing she’s right. I haven’t tried very hard. I’ve kept ultra-Adam too close.

But I’m right too. I’m not going to beg someone to love me. The only way to get Adam out of my system is to stop making assumptions.

“I’ll talk to him tomorrow,” I say.

“Good. Now go to bed.”

“It’s eight o’clock.”

“And you have to get in a workout before work tomorrow.”

She knows me so well. She hangs up without saying goodbye. We never say goodbye to each other.

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