Page 13 of The Leaving Road

“Oh no, no problem at all. Hey, Matt? You should be careful. She disappeared after eighteen years of friendship, so I’m sure she wouldn’t give it another thought leaving your ass in the dust after two years.”

The entire table sat silent and the rage I was feeling was uncontainable.

“You asshole,”I whispered in a deadly tone, my eyes set on the table.

“What? We were friends for eighteen years, and you just up and left—you left me and my family with no word on where you went. Did you know my mom filed a police report when we didn’t hear from you for forty-eight hours and your house looked untouched? Did you know that she put up flyers and posters and drove around for hours, searching for you. When she finally reached your dad and he explained you had to leave ASAP for an internship, she was crushed you didn’t tell her or answer her. You didn’t answer me forweeks. So please, Magnolia, tell me how that makesmethe asshole?”

“Oh shit.” I heard from Lexie somewhere, but all I could do was let out a humorless laugh. I turned to him, meeting his eyes for the first time in eight years, forcing myself to stay strong and put him in his place.

“So, in all the years I’ve been gone, you didn’t once stop to think that maybe, justmaybe,in a small town like Rockland, I found out your dirty little secret? Or wait, was that me? Considering you snuck in throughmywindow every night, not the other way around.”

He had the nerve to visibly flinch at my words, but I kept going.

“That maybe, justmaybe,I found out that you were fucking Cassie.Cassie, the same girl who tried her darndest to make my lifea living hell. Who, when I lost my mom, didn’t stop the bullying; no, she just kept at it, and even made it worse? It took me a few years after leaving here and leaving everything behind that I realized she was so awful because ofyou.You were that much of a selfish asshole, and you were only eighteen. You chose to keep me in the dark, you chose tolie to me.You felt it was acceptable to climb through my bedroom window for years, pretend to be mybest friendfor years, and still date a girl who was exceptionally cruel, and you knew all about it. Did you just not care? Did you sit and laugh and mock me behind my back? And that isn’t even the worst part. I probably could have accepted the fact that you decided to sell your soul and sleep with the damn devil, but what I couldn’t and will never get over is the fact that you and your mom considered me an obligation, a task, achoresince my mom had died.” I choked on my words, and I knew disgust and sorrow showed on my face. “You know what? It doesn’t even matter anymore.Wenever mattered. It just took me too long to realize that.”

He slammed his hand on the table, causing me to jump, and the others at the table as well. If the other patrons weren’t paying attention before, they sure were now.

“I never considered you an obligation, and neither did my mom.” His voice was deadly low, almost commanding.

I scoffed, “Don’t be obtuse, Sloan.I heard you. I heard every word you told Cassie that night at our graduation party. You haveno rightto be upset, you fucking selfish prick. You really thought aftereighteen yearsI’d just up and leave without a reason? Shows what you thought about me.”

“I was eighteen years old, Magnolia. I was saying those things to placate my girlfriend who I thought I was in love with at the time because I didn’t want to be stuck choosing between her and my best friend. Was it right? Fuck no, but I was young and immature. You could have talked to me about it.”

“You didn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt after what I overheard. I hope your decisions and words keep you up at night like they did me,” I spat before finally turning away. I had said what I needed to.

How dare he try to put any of this on me.

“We’re leaving.” I turned to the group who were watching us with rapt attention.

“I’d tell you it’s been fun, but I think we all know what a lie that would be. Lex, let’s go.”

Turning on my heel, I felt him behind me.

“Please, don’t go, Magnolia. I…I’m so sorry.” His whisper sounded agonized.

Good.

“There was a time your apology would have meant everything to me, but now it’s just not enough.”

I walked out of Montgomery’s without sparing a glance back.

Chapter 9

Magnolia

I woke up the next morning with the sunrise, feeling lighter than I had in years. It was hard not to smile. I feltgood, like a weight had been lifted off my heart. Maybe my dad was on to something. I stretched and decided I needed to get some coffee in me and start deciding what the next few months would look like. I was staying. I hummed a little bit to myself while the coffee was brewing.

“It’s even too early for me to be singing. Are you okay, or do I need to check you for a fever?” Lexie said with a yawn behind me, startling me.

“Jesus, woman! Make some noise, would you? You’re going to send me to an early grave.”

She laughed, her eyes searching my face. “You look good, Mags, way good.”

“I feel good, Lex. I needed that.”

She kept her eyes on me for a few more seconds. “We’re staying, aren’t we?”

“I am, Lex, and I would love for you to join me on this crazy adventure. I mean, who doesn’t want to live in a small coastal town where the dating pool is tiny and, in the winters, we get so much snow we sometimes can’t leave our houses for days at a time. But I know you’d be giving up your entire life back in Iowa, so you don’t have to do this with me. Just promise me you’ll visit at least twice a month. You can afford it.” I winked at her.

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