Page 103 of Nothing Like the Movies

“Last night should’ve been the biggest night of my life, and it wasn’t. It wasn’t because you weren’t there. So I just wanted to tell you, not to change your mind or keep you from going, but just so you know, that I know, that I do need you.”

—For Love of the Game

Wes

“But.” Her green eyes looked huge as she gazed up at me like I’d just hit her. “The Antonoff party wasrightafter you moved home.”

“Yeah,” I said, not sure where this was going.

“So we didn’t break up for weeks,” she said, her eyebrows furrowing.

Because I wasn’t strong enough to let you go, Lib.

I’d known it was the best thing for her, and I was determined to do it.

But every night, I was too weak.

As soon as I heard the sound of her incoming FaceTime, I’d tell myselfone more timeand get lost in Liz for one more conversation.

“Was that why you were so distant?” she asked. “You were trying to get rid of me?”

“I had to,” I said, feeling weak from the recollection. “Ilovedyou.”

That flipped a switch. As soon as I saidI loved you, her face went from sad and confused to straight-up angry.

“No, you werecheatingon me,” she said through gritted teeth. “Don’t youdareact like you loved me, Wes.”

“But Idid,” I yelled, because that was the only truth I’d ever known. “Ialwaysloved you.”

“Shut up,” she snapped, but her tears lessened the aggression as she shook her head and hiccupped out a little sob. I felt it in the center of my chest when she said, “I hate that you suffered, and I hate what you went through, but that doesn’t erase what you did.”

“I didn’t, though,” I said, ready to finally confess. “I didn’t cheat on you, Lib.”

She took a step back, putting her hands on top of her head and looking at me like I was out of my mind. Her eyes were huge when she said, “You can’t lie about this now, Wes, because you were the one whotoldme that you did, remember?”

Yeah, how could I ever forget?

New Year’s Day

Two Years Ago

I was lying in bed, hungover and depressed, when the doorbell started ringing.

The first time, it was a singular ring.

Since Sarah and I never answered the door unless we were expecting someone, we both ignored it.

And when it rang again, we responded in the same way.

But then, whoever was at the door lost their ever-loving mindand started lying on the bell, ringing that thing over and over and over again like a psycho.

“Go away,” I muttered, covering my head with my pillow. Just being awake was bad enough; I definitely wasn’t interested in engaging with another human.

But then I heard Sarah run down the stairs and open the door.

Idiot.It was probably those people who sold pest control door to door.

But in an instant, everything inside me roared awake and my heart started poundinghardin my chest, because I heardhervoice. I heard Liz say, “I need to talk to your brother.”

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