Page 125 of The Future Play

I wave my hand. “No. Don’t answer that. I’m not sure which answer would hurt worse. You either loved me and lied and said you didn’t and made me feel crazy, or you led me on the whole time. I don’t know what’s more awful. You didn’t need to follow me out here. I’m not your girl. Clearly, I never was. So go back to your fiancée. I hope you have a lovely life together.”

Then I turn on my heel and walk away, my stomach churning and tears burning in my eyes.

She’s with a woman. No matter what way you spin it, her being with me was never an experiment. She knew what she wanted. It just wasn’t me.

It’s never me.

Tears trickle down my face, and I don’t realize where I am or where I’m going until I’m standing in front of the bakery Mackenzie’s family owns, staring up at her window.

“Mands?”

I slowly turn, but it’s not Mackie standing there. It’s Hyla.

In less than a second, I’m engulfed in a hug. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything.”

“Come on. Let’s go inside.”

She leads me up the stairs that go to the two-story apartment above the bakery where Mackie lives.

“Hey, Hy, what’s—Mands… what’s going on?”

“She needs some love,” Hyla whispers.

They whisk me off to Mackenzie’s room, and I end up sitting on the floor between them. I don’t know how they do it—stay friends despite the emotional turmoil of their past relationship.

“What happened?” Hyla asks, wrapping an arm around me.

Mackenzie does the same, resting her head against mine.

“Why am I not enough?” My voice shakes, and all I want to do is give in to the crushing ache in my chest.

“You’re more than enough. Anyone who says otherwise can go fuck themselves,” Mackie says.

Tears come hot and fast, and I don’t bother trying to hold them back. I’m an emotional wreck. Might as well lean into it.

“Tell us what happened,” Hyla says, gently running her fingers through my hair.

I bite my lip, a wave of self-loathing hitting me. I don’t deserve her comforting me after how I treated her when she and Mackie were first dating. I compared her to my horrible ex, and didn’t see the woman she was beneath it all. Hyla is the friend everyone needs. She shows up every time in any way she can. She’s always the one to uplift everyone. It took less than a year to realize my mistake, but I will always regret it. After all that, now she’s the one comforting me without a second thought.

She wraps her hand around mine and squeezes tightly. “We’ve got you. You’re safe here.”

“I’m sorry,” I cry.

“Why?” Hyla asks.

“Because I was bitch to you when we first met, and you didn’t deserve that. You always deserved all the love and support possible. I thought—I thought you were like her…”

“Like who?”

“Maci.”

“Her ex,” Mackie clarifies.

“But you’re not. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me again. You’ve done that enough. And since then, you’ve showed up for me over and over again—in all my worst moments. You’ve protected me and taken care of me, and our friendship has grown beautifully. You’ve been there for me through every horrible moment, just like I’m here for you.Weare here for you. Tell us what happened.”

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