Page 8 of The Hang Up
“Hey,” I say, clearing my throat. “Got a minute?”
Arlowe glances at Auden, then shrugs. “Sure. What’s up?”
I scratch the back of my neck, feeling like I’m back in tenth grade, asking someone’s older sister for advice. “I just… I know Lena’s your friend. And I don’t want to overstep. But I’m trying to make things right with her, and I wondered if you two might be able to help.”
“Help?” Auden echoes.
I nod. “Just… I don’t know. Tell her I’m not trying to mess with her. That I want to explain. That I still care.”
They both go quiet.
“She knows,” Arlowe says after a minute.
“She does?” I ask, my eyebrows rising.
“She’s not stupid. She knows why you’re back. She knows you’re trying,” Arlowe reveals.
“Then why won’t she talk to me?”
“Because you hurt her,” Auden says flatly. “She’s not over it, Holden. And maybe she shouldn’t be.”
Her words are like a slap. Not because they’re mean, but because they’re true.
“I just…” I exhale. “I need to make her understand why I left. What I was thinking. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was protecting her.”
“She doesn’t need protecting,” Auden says, voice cool. “She needed someone to stay.”
That lands like a punch to the gut.
“I know,” I whisper. “I know that now. I just need a chance to say it. Once. Then she can slam the door in my face forever if she wants to.”
Arlowe studies me for a beat. Then she sighs. “We’ll think about it.”
That’s not a yes, but it’s more than I expected.
“Thanks,” I say. “Really.”
They nod and keep walking.
I head off in the opposite direction, shoulders heavy.
By the time I reach Wade’s place, I’ve replayed every word of that interaction a dozen times. I’m emotionally wrung out, and it’s not even noon.
Wade opens the door before I can knock. “Let me guess. Didn’t go well.”
I grunt and push past him, collapsing onto the worn leather couch in his living room. “She sold me a muffin,” I mutter.
“Progress,” he deadpans.
I shoot him a look. “She didn’t even smile.”
“Did she spit in the muffin?”
I blink. “I don’t think so?”
“Then I stand by what I said. Progress.”
I roll my eyes. “I talked to Auden and Arlowe.”
