Page 82 of Your Rhythm
I rub my temple, searching for the right words to explain. I didn’t want to get into details, but I’m going to have to convince him he’s not putting his own ass on the line if I want his help.
“I’m doing a story on Sherbrooke Station. I wrote a version of the article they were never supposed to read. Atlas got it and now everything is all fucked up. I have to fix as much of it as I can, but my explanation isn’t going to be enough. They don’t want to listen to what I have to say, but they might if it’s coming from someone else.”
I hear him chuckle into the receiver. “This isn’t just about a band, is it? This is about a guy.”
I freeze, and he laughs again at my silence.
“I know you, Kay. I screwed up bad, but I didn’t date you for a year without getting to know you. You would never ask a favour from anyone unless it meant a whole fucking lot to you. You fell in love with one of them, didn’t you?”
“No.” My voice is hoarse. “No, I just...I care. I care too much to let it go.”
“Yeah, coming from Kay Fischer that’s basically a declaration of love.”
I’m too stunned by his perception to deny it.
“I should have been better to you, Kay,” he murmurs. “I’ve never met another girl like you.”
“Yeah.” I’m almost whispering now. “You really should have been better.”
“Look, if I do this thing, if I make some dramatic speech or whatever it is you have in my mind for redeeming yourself, can I...Will that redeem me too? Can I have your forgiveness, Kay? I haven’t been able to get close to anyone else knowing how much I hurt you, and...and maybe it would help you too if you could let go. I don’t want to hurt you anymore by making you keep hating me.”
It’s not a great apology, and he’s being a bit presumptuous assuming I’m stillthatcut up over him, but he’s right. No matter how small it is, I could fill the space in me that despises him with way better things instead.
“Okay, Dylan. I’ll forgive you. Now here’s what you have to do first.”
