Page 99 of You Loved Me Once
I look away, unwilling to see whatever emotion he displays. “Gone.”
“A man like him doesn’t walk away willingly,” he ponders. “What happened?”
No, guys like him don’t, but a woman like me forced his hand. I can’t do this right now. I know I’m being unreasonable, but for my entire life, I’ve held it together and I can’t anymore.
My father stands there, waiting for an answer. “I broke his heart.”
He purses his lips and nods. “And then you just gave up?”
I let out a half-laugh. “No. There’s no way to change what I did.”
“You cheated on him?”
“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not like that.”
“I’m going out on a limb and going to assume it has something to do with Bryce Peyton being back in your life,” he challenges.
I’d love to blame him, but it’s not Bryce’s fault that I lied to Westin. It’s not Bryce’s fault that I changed the medication. Those were my choices.
“No, Dad. This time it wasn’t because of Bryce. It was my choices that made Westin leave. I did this.” I push past him and curl up on the bed.
An hour later I hear people talking again. Why the hell is everyone coming here? Who cares that I’m sad and broken? Why can’t people allow me a few days of sulking?
I climb out of bed to slam the door, but the voice halts me.
“I understand, Mick, but her phone is off and she needs to come into the hospital this week,” Westin’s voice fills the room. “Just tell her, please.”
For the first time in days, my heart starts to beat again. I grip the door handle, not wanting anyone to hear me and him leave. He came, maybe...maybe nothing, the hope that began to fill me deflates.
“Son, I just want to know what is going on.”
Westin pauses. “It’s up to her to talk to you about it.”
“She won’t get out of bed,” Daddy tells him. “She won’t talk to anyone or eat. I’ve never seen her like this.” I hear the worry in my father’s voice. “Even when her mother died, she was the strong one. I’m asking you to just talk to her.”
I hear a sigh and I peek around the door to see him with his head down. “I wish I could, but I can’t right now.”
And the hope is gone, just as it should be.
“Do you love her?” my father questions.
“It’s not about love, Mick.”
My father shakes his head. “Love is all that matters. It’s worth it if she’s the right girl for you.”
Westin closes his eyes and takes a step back. When he disappears from view, I know that he doesn’t love me anymore. I’ve hurt him, and there’s no coming back. “Just tell her she needs to come in. It’s important.”
“All right,” Daddy resigns himself. “I’ll let her know.”
“Thank you, I’ll talk to you soon,” Westin says.
The door shuts, and I climb back into bed, feeling the loss of Westin all over again.
* * *
“That’s it,” Julie yells. “Get up!”
“Go to hell,” I say and pull the covers up.
