Page 58 of My Best Years

There was a period of time when the coffee shop was short-staffed and our parents had to work around the clock. Winnie had just gotten a bicycle for her birthday, but it was dark outside when Dad would get home from work. So Callum spent every afternoon with Winnie for an entire week, teaching her how to ride a bike without training wheels.

I think that was when he won her over for good.

Callum could be playful and joke with her like a friend, but she also knew he’d have her back like an older brother. Even if she won’t admit it, I know she has a major soft spot in her heart for Callum. And I can’t fault her for that.

He was such an integral part of our childhood. She still loves him, just in a different way than me.

“I’m just scared…” I finally mutter.

“Scared of what, B?” Genuine curiosity lacesher tone.

“I don’t know…” I stammer. “Mostly scared of getting hurt again. What if things aren’t the same between us anymore?”

What if that same spark isn’t there?

“Of course things won’t be the same,” she replies. “It’s been a literal decade since Callum was in your life. Things have changed. You’re different people now.”

My chest aches every time I think about the reality of that statement. How much time we’ve missed out on.

“But what sounds worse to you,” she continues, “letting go of Callum for good, or seeing where things could go? At the very least, you might end up being friends again.”

Losing Callum for good is, without a doubt, the most terrifying of the two.

“I don’t think we can ever just be friends, Winnie.”

I know she agrees by the pause on the other end of the line.

“That’s fair,” she finally murmurs. “But you have no idea what youcouldbe if you don’t try. Whether you want to admit it or not, I’ve watched you pine after him since we were kids. Even in the years that he’s been gone, you’ve never been able to let him go because you never got closure. You’ve dated a handful of good men and ended every single relationship because they weren’t ‘the one.’ But how can they be when there’s no space in your heart for anyone else? Maybe giving this a try will help you move on, whether you end up with him or not. If it doesn’t work out, you can truly let Callum go. But at least you won’t have to walk around not knowing anymore.”

I blink slowly as I stare at the ceiling and inhale a deep breath. There’s no point in arguing with Winnie because everything she just said is one hundred percent true.

I’ll never be able to move on until I finally close the chapter that belongs to Callum Pierce.

And maybe, if the odds are stacked in our favor, Callum and I could begin writing a new chapter together.

“You’re right,” I mutter.

I hear her click her tongue.

“I know I am,” she boasts. “I always am.”

Such a smug little shit.

“So…does that mean you’re going to text him?” she pushes.

“I’ll think about it,” I taunt in a playful tone.

We both know that I’m going to text him sooner rather than later…

“You’ll think about it?” She lets out an annoyed exhale. “You’re lucky that you’re my sister because you drive me fucking crazy.”

“Whatever, you love me. I’m your favorite person.”

“I’m hanging up on you now,” she hums.

“How rude!”I say in an exacerbated tone.

“I have to get to class; you know this.”

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