Page 124 of Over the Edge

“Ok, I will.”

She hangs up to finish packing. My head falls into my hands and I groan. A need to do something, fix something, make this all better for her itches against my bones. But I can’t. This isn’t something I can solve by taking her to a greasy drive-in or changing my own life.

If she gets the job offer, which there’s no doubt in my mind that she will, I’m ready to move back to Nashville. I have a soft spot for the city, and it wouldn’t be a burden. I can write music from anywhere. But I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t how it’s supposed to end.

“Garrett. There’s a guest for you.” Alina steps into the living room where I was practicing for the festival before Evelyn called.

I put my cello securely back in its case before heading to the door. Before I reach it, I know it won’t be Evelyn, Alina would have said something different if it were.

Quinn stands stiffly as she waits. Her eyes move across the panels of the house as if counting them to distract herself.

“She’s coming with us to Nashville,” she announces.

“I know,” I say.

“What are you going to do about it?”

“Why do you think I should do something?”

“Because I know it's a mistake. You know it’s a mistake too and you’re not doing anything,” Quinn says, putting in effort to make sure I can read between the lines. I do, and that doesn’t change anything.

“Tell her that.”

“I told someone I would wait,” she says then looks toward the road.

That someone I can only assume is Oliver. If that’s true, then I’m right to stay out of this. This is about the three of them and their friendship now; in some ways it always was.

“I trust her to figure it out.”

“What if she doesn’t?” she asks, the iron in her voice turning to a soft desperation.

“Then she’ll have plenty of chances to change her mind. I know I did. It took me fucking ages. Maybe I waited too long. Or maybe I needed to realize certain things before that choice madesense. Maybe I needed the exact right person to tell me some tough truths,” I tell her.

I’m not the right person, not just because of what I need for my and Evelyn’s relationship to succeed, but because this was never about me. She never had the chance to hide from me.

“You know she’s making the wrong choice”—she waves from me to the house across the street—“and you’re just standing there.”

“And you sent her the job opening in the first place,” I remind her. I sort of hate Quinn for it, giving Evelyn this way to abandon everything she has sacrificed so much for.

“I shouldn’t have.” Quinn grows more agitated, but I have the impression that it’s more at herself than with me. “You’re seriously not going to talk her out of it?”

“No,” I say. “Is there anything else?”

“Just that this conversation has been wildly infuriating, and the only reason I’m not calling you an asshole is because I love Evelyn more than to insult her boyfriend to his face.”

“Somehow, you still managed to tell me exactly how you feel,” I say and earn a faint, knowing smirk. “I hope you get what you want out of your trip.”

She gives me a clipped “Thanks” before walking away.

The door creaks as I watch Quinn back down the driveway then turn toward the house across the street.

“You’re really letting her go,” Alina says as she sidles up next to me.

“I have to at least give her a convincing head start.” I sigh.

There’s no guarantee today will play out in the way I hope, but I’m not the one she needs to talk to. I already believe in her, but my perspective isn’t going to help. She’ll have me either way, but I have to trust my gut. It’s been the thing telling me to chase her for years and I have to give that feeling some credit.

Alina lets out a shuddering cough that causes every muscle in my body to tense.

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