Page 21 of Choosing Forever
“Thanks, genius.”
“There’s no fixing what happened with Delaney. She hates me, and I don’t blame her for it.”
Bryce reaches over and shoves at my arm, scowling. “I never took you for a quitter.”
“I’m not. I’m just realistic. Yesterday was the first time I’ve spoken to her since your opening day at the shop, and it was just as awkward. She would have slammed her classroom door in my face if we were alone.”
I leave out the part about me begging her to see me outside of school. That was just way too desperate. I don’t know what we would have even spoken about.
“I never knew you spoke at the shop.”
I stiffen.
“It was brief.”
She eliminates the empty cushion between us, tucking a leg beneath her as she leans over. “Spill it.”
“Since when are you a gossiper?”
“Since now. Don’t turn this on me.”
If Bryce is one thing, it’s stubborn. Too damn stubborn for her or anyone else’s good. Once she sets her mind on something, that’s the end of it. It’s suddenly my least favourite quality about her.
I play it safe with my explanation. If she knew everything that was said or the way those words left me feeling, she’d never let this go.
I still haven’t.
“I told her I was sorry to hear about her grandmother. She thanked me.”
There’s a subtle fall of her lips before she asks, “That’s it?”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
“Fuck off. That doesn’t change anything.”
“There isn’t anything to change, Bryce. We’re the past.”
“You can still fix the drive-in. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for Abbie. Don’t you want her to be able to grow up watching movies there like we did?”
I glare at her. “Don’t bring my daughter into this.”
“Isn’t she already in this? I’d say that she’s the most important part in what happened?—”
“Leave it alone. There’s no point in entertaining the thought of rebuilding the drive-in unless there’s some sort of approval from your father.”
“Okay, so once I have it?”
“Why is this so important to you?” I ask, startling myself with the question.
Bryce absorbs it, not letting my shitty attitude affect her. “If there was even the smallest chance that she’d forgive you, would you want it?”
There’s no question. Even after all this time.
“You know I would.”
“Then I’ll talk to my dad, and when I get a yes, you need to promise me that you’ll do whatever it takes to get the drive-in rebuilt.”
I hate how skeptical I am, but there’s no fighting it off yet. “Fixing the drive-in won’t make her forgive me, Bryce.”
