Page 70 of Love Unavoidable
“You mean date him,” Aaron says gesturing toward me.
“No, I mean other people,” she says.
“Why?” Aaron asks.
Good question, dude.
“I need to know what I like and what I want, I need to know that for me.”
“So, you’re not ready to take the next step?”
Man, he can be simple sometimes.
“No,” she whispers. “I’m not. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear before. Or if my mother misled you.” She takes a step toward the entryway.
“I guess I’ll go then,” Aaron says.
“I am sorry,” she says. Aaron turns and walks back down the drive toward his rental car. She waits in the doorway until he drives away. Only then does she let the sob escape as she runs down the hall to her room.
Melissa comes to stand beside me. “Wow, that was intense,” she says.
“Yeah, look, I need to check on her and then hit the hay. Sorry. Do you mind?” I gesture toward the doorway, hoping this time she will pick up on what I’m hinting at.
She walks out the door, then turns back toward me, “It’s obvious you care for her.”
I nod.
“But,” she continues, “It’s also obvious she’s not into you, so call me.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. Not a big laugh, or even an authentic laugh, just a hollow chuckle from the pit of my stomach. I wait until Melissa is in her car and backs out of the drive before I shut the front door and lock it.
Stopping at Sadie’s door as I’m heading down the hall toward my room, I can hear her crying inside. I want to go in there, pull her into my arms and comfort her until her hurt goes away. I put my hand on the knob, ready to turn it, but pause.
I can’t.
So, instead I go into my room to get ready for bed. When I shut the bedroom door, the click of the latch reminds me of the finality with which Sadie has locked me out of her heart. I need to remember that she doesn’t want me. She’s made that clear. And continuing to try to change that is the definition of insanity.
