Page 128 of Over the Edge

“You know, you could go for it.”

“I don’t think she’s interested.” He shrugs.

I think about what Quinn said, how Oliver and I didn’t push each other. It’s true, I’m not sure if that would be the same for them. Quinn needs a soft love, and Oliver needs someone to tell him he can do more than he thinks he’s capable of.

“Or she’s scared to take the leap. I know my best friend. She wouldn’t just pretend to be with just anyone. And seeing you two together made sense. I can’t think of anything better than you two being happy together. I meant it then and I do now,” I tell him. I want them to have the same joy I’ve found with Garrett, the type that can only come when you break past the fear of being seen to find the one person who makes you feel known.

“And it won’t be weird?”

I laugh then lightly shove his shoulder. “I think we’re way past that. These last few weeks helped us get that out of the way. We all survived it,” I say and mean it on many levels. We survived this, on the other end we’re rebuilding what worked and what needs to change. Because change is needed and it’s perpetual.

“Somehow, yeah, we did.”

“I do mean it, we can talk more about this if you need.” I reach out to grip his free hand and give it a squeeze.

“I will at some point. I’ve gone to a lot of therapy, so really, I’ve been talking through this for a long time and I also had Quinn to talk about this to. But I’m happy to know that door is open whenever we need it.”

It makes me feel a little better. I put him in this situation so there’s only so much relief I can allow myself to accept.

Eventually, we reach the doors to the arrivals that say no reentry beyond this point. The point of no return and I’m finally brave enough to see what the other side has in store.

47

Garrett

“This is a funny place to find you.” Her voice cuts through the yelling of the airport attendants and angry clamor of car horns.

I look up from my phone right as a black pawn captures one of my knights. She’s far more enjoyable to look at than the 2D graphics that I’ve been focusing on to distract myself. “Unemployment has given me plenty of free time.”

“And the airport arrivals area is where you’ve decided to spend it?” She crosses her arms over her chest, seemingly unimpressed. My heart races at the sight of her, the way it always does.

I considered running in, buying a ticket, and waiting at her gate. But there was a chance Quinn wouldn’t confront Evelyn with the truth. I don’t need to know what they said, but I know something happened or she wouldn’t be here. Evelyn needed to know her worst fears weren’t what she imagined them to be.

“You see, there’s this one girl I was hoping would come back to me and I wanted to be here in case she did. I told her to gowhen I really meant to tell her I wanted her to stay. But I knew if I asked her to stay then she wouldn’t have been able to talk to some very important people. It scared the shit out of me because there are about three things in my life that make me happy.”

“And she makes you happy?”

“Happy doesn’t begin to describe how I am with her.”

“How’d that turn out for you? Did she show up?” she asks, slyly as her eyes rove over me. “If not, I’m free right now. You’re hot enough that we could have some fun together.”

“Maybe you can help me find her. She wears these stupid T-shirts I can’t ever tell her that I love, and I’m pretty sure the only reason I love them is because she’s the one wearing them. She’s also a hopeless romantic and gets offended on behalf of happy endings,” I say, sweeping my gaze across the sea of people leaving the airport. My fingers itch with the need to reach out and hold her.

“I don’t see how that second one will help me.”

“You can see it in her eyes. It’s the way she sees the best in everyone,” I tell her. “Even me.”

Finally, she steps closer. Her shoulders shake in nervous, silent laughter. “You’re here.”

“So are you.”

“I had a flight to catch, what’s your excuse?”

“You.”

“Really, no other reason? I’m not sure I’m worth the drive.”

“As far as I’m concerned, you’re the best reason to do anything.” I say, then take a deep breath to steady myself. “Because I love you, Evelyn. I love you and the person I get to be because of you. I meant what I said, I’ll be here to support you through these moments, as many as you have, because there’s no limit to what I’ll do when it comes to you,” I tell her, freeing the emotion stored deep in my chest.

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