Page 160 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

My heart swelled with emotions.

I cleared my throat. “Still, I need to try and figure out if I can get past this. Relationships take trust, and I… I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to trust you completely after this.”

I watched as the hopeful glimmer in his gaze died. He tried to hide it, but disappointment was plastered on his face.

“I understand. Take all the time you need. But you have to know I’m not going anywhere. If you tell me to fuck off, I will. But if you give me another chance, I’ll do everything in my power to prove to you that youcantrust me. Day after day, I’ll continue to try and fix this. I mean that, Lace. I love you. And I don’t care how long it takes me to make it right.”

I could feel myself start to fall apart, a wall of tears building in my eyes, so I just nodded and got out of the car. That was the last time I saw him.

Since then, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. About his mom. About the absolute hell he must’ve gone through growing up. About his hatred for Daniel.

When it comes down to it, I think he just needed someone to blame.

When your dad leaves you as a kid, and then your mom tries to kill herself when you’re fourteen, you’re bound to be a little mad at the world.

My phone pings with a text, jerking me back to reality.

Dia

We’re outside.

I wasn’t too sure about going for ice cream with the girls today, but they were desperate for some updates about TJ and practically forced my hand by telling me they’d be picking me up after work.

Not that I’m complaining. We haven’t been able to get together for a while, and I miss them. Dia’s project for a dog-walking app is starting to take off, and it’s been eating up a lot of her time. As for Aveena, she doesn’t have much energy to socialize anymore. She hasn’t given birth yet, and being a week late has left her a little antsy.

After I’ve grabbed my things in the back, I tell my coworkers goodbye and head out for the day. I spot Dia’s car out front and make a beeline for it.

Aveena’s sitting in the passenger seat, so I swing open the rear door and drop into the back seat with an exasperated sigh.

Dia laughs. “Well, hello, beautiful. Don’t you look cheerful?”

“Long day?” Aveena asks as Dia pulls out of the café’s parking lot.

I scoff. “Longweek.”

“Okay, so not to be pushy, but you still haven’t told us about your date with TJ, and we’re in desperate need of some details,” Aveena cuts to the chase.

“We’re going to need you to tell us every little thing, thank you very much,” Dia chimes.

I’m not sure they realize what they’re asking for.

I throw my head back against the headrest with a groan. “How long do you have?”

I wascertain telling the girls all about TJ’s tragic backstory would kill the mood.

And it did.

But only for a bit.

We decided to wait until I was done telling them about TJ’s confession to go get ice cream, and it was probably a good call.

Turns out all we needed were chocolate milkshakes with extra whipped cream to lift our spirits.

“I still can’t believe she’s been in that place since he wasfourteen,” Dia says before finishing her milkshake in one big sip.

“I get that he had his aunt, but man. It’s a miracle that boy turned out as well as he did,” Aveena adds.

“And you haven’t talked to him at all since that night?” Dia asks.

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