Page 123 of Fake Dating My Best Friend

“I came here to understand why I wasn’t enough,” I say slowly. “But that was never the question I should have been asking, was it?”

“No,” he says softly. “The question isn’t why people leave. It’s why they’re too afraid to stay.” He leans forward, his eyes red-rimmed but intent. “But I want you to understand something—none of it, not one moment, was because you weren’t enough.”

He stands, walks across the room, and crouches beside an old cabinet tucked into the corner. After a moment of rummaging, he pulls out a small photo box, the lid slightly warped, like it’s been opened and closed a hundred times.

He sets it carefully on the coffee table, lifting the lid.

Inside the box, there are letters. A dozen, at least. Some with Lisa Frank stickers curling at the corners. Some are crayon-colored. Some in shaky, determined handwriting I barely recognize as my own.

“I kept every single one.” He lifts one letter carefully. “Every letter you ever sent me. I didn’t have the courage to write back.”

Something catches in my chest and won’t let go.

He looks at me then, voice raw. “The failure was mine, not yours. I’m sorry, Isla. To you. To your mom. To Conner.”

My throat tightens, and I have to swallow twice before I can speak. “You should tell them that yourself.” I tuck my feet underneath me, shifting on the couch.

He nods slowly. “I will.” A pause, then a small, tentative breath. “And . . . thank you. For coming here. For being willing to see me at all.” His voice is rough with something I can’t quite name. “I don’t know what the future looks like, but I hope this isn’t the last time we see each other. I’m still working on myself. I want to be better. And I hope someday, I get the chance to prove that to you.”

“I should go,” I say, standing suddenly. “It has been a long day.”

He nods, rising too. “I understand. Thank you for coming. For giving me the chance to tell you how sorry I am.”

At the door, I pause. “His name is Asher,” I say quietly. “The person I’m running from. The reason I ended up here today.”

I exhale, shaking my head. “I’ve spent years convincing myself it wouldn’t last, that it was safer not to try. And I’ve hated you for so long—for what you put us through, for what you took from us. But . . . thank you. For telling me the truth. I’m going to make a different choice.”

His mouth pulls into a small smile. “I’m sure he’s a good man.”

Asher’s not just a good man. He’s the one.

And now the only question is if I can get back to him in time and if he’ll still want me after I’ve pushed him away one too many times.

CONNER

Where are you?

ISLA

I just drove to meet Dad.

CONNER

Wait. You mean Boston? Isla, are you serious?

Are you even going to make it back in time for tomorrow?

ISLA

Yeah. I’ll tell you everything later.

Staying the night here, leaving early in the morning. I’ll be there.

Chapter 32

Asher

ISLA

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