Page 65 of Crossroads of Love

I swallow, her words hitting too close to the truth I don’t want to face.

“We had our issues. Everyone does.”

“Yeah, but you were fighting all the time,” she shoots back, her voice quieter now, almost sad. “You cried yourself to sleep more times than I can count. I remember you calling me after those fights, trying to convince yourself it would get better and things would change.”

“It wasn’t all bad, though.”

“I know that.” She reaches across the counter and takes my hand. “But you’re only focusing on the good parts right now, the few memories where things were okay, and you’re not seeing the reality. You loved him, you loved who he could’ve been, Lena, but you weren’t happy. Not for a long time.”

I stare at the countertop, blinking back the tears threatening to fall. Hearing my best friend say the truth out loud is what I need to hear, but it doesn’t make it easy.

“The Lena I see right now, with Gavin, with the way he treats you? That’s a happy Lena. A beautiful, glowing Lena who is finally being seen. And that’s what you deserve. That’s what Jayla deserves.”

I exhale slowly, her words sinking deeper than I want them to. Tatum always has this way of cutting through the bullshit and giving me the truth when no one else would.

“I stayed with Aaron because of Jayla,” I whisper. “I didn’t want her to grow up in a broken home.”

“But a broken home isn’t always about being separated, baby. Sometimes it’s staying together when you’re miserable and pretending things are okay for the sake of someone else. And that’s not fair to you or to Jayla.”

I swipe at my eyes, the tears finally spilling over. “We were together for so long, Tatum. It’s hard to just let that go.”

“I know it is.” She squeezes my hand. “But holding on to something just because it’s familiar doesn’t make it good for you. And Gavin… God, Lena, I never saw Aaron look at you the same way Gavin looks at you.”

I laugh even though I’m still crying. “You think?”

“It’s like you’re the only person in the room. That’s the kind of love you deserve. Not the kind that makes you feel guilty for wanting to be happy.”

I don’t have the energy to argue with her. She is right, even if part of me doesn’t want to admit it. I was holding on to something that ended long before Aaron passed away. And Gavin… Gavin makes me feel things I haven’t felt in years. Things I’d almost forgotten how to feel.

“I just…” I start, my voice shaky. “I don’t know how to move on from this. From Aaron.”

“You’ve already started, babe. You just have to keep going. Maybe it’s a little fear that’s showing up as guilt.”

Oof, that was a mind-blowing revelation.

I suck in a long breath, knowing she’s right.

“I’m scared he’s going to trick me into falling for him and then tell me he’s leaving or that…”

“You’re just a fuck buddy?”

I nod, letting more tears fall. We sit in silence for a while, sipping our margaritas, the heaviness of the conversation slowly lifting. Tatum reaches for the chips, popping one into her mouth, and I laugh, grateful for the energy shift.

“You really know how to bring the mood down, huh?” I tease, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

She grins, crunching on another chip. “That’s what I’m here for. Deep talks and margaritas.”

“Don’t ever change.”

“I won’t. But you better.”

I giggle and nod.

“I wonder what he’s doing right now.”

“Girl, you better give me your phone. You’re not drunk texting him right now.”

“I’m not drunk.”

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