Page 45 of Easy Reunion
Chapter 19
Rierson
Almost two weeks, at least twenty texts, and I’m no closer to reaching Kelsey than I was when she ran out of Audubon Park.
God, I fucked up.
When I got back to my house, Lisa was eager to ask me how my latest date went. I just shook my head and locked myself in my study with the etched glass of Kelsey’s words to keep me company. Less than an hour later, I sent my first text.
I’m sorry. Please, talk to me.
What I lost sight of when my temper snapped over her absolute disbelief in herself was Kelsey still has a right to be angry with me. She doesn’t know the truth. She doesn’t know about what could have happened to Lisa. She doesn’t know what happened to me. She has no idea of the insults she keeps piling on me over and over when she lumps me in with those pieces of shit from high school. I thought I was ready to face her in Savannah with a heartfelt but simple apology.
I was so wrong.
I can say “I’m sorry” a million times, but I’ve done a shit job at proving I don’t mean to harm her again. And Kelsey’s far from an idiot. She’s protecting herself from me, from her past, and all the pain associated with it. Instead of patience while I figure out how to explain something I never thought I’d have the chance to, I erupt like I’m the injured party.
In the meanwhile, I keep trying to reach her. I’ve had no success, and I’m completely miserable.
I can’t let go, I think frantically as I begin to text her again.Kels, I’m so sorry. I was wrong. Can we meet…
I’m interrupted by Lisa walking into the kitchen, laughing. God, I don’t even remember what laughter feels like, I think sourly. I keep typing, and then I erase the text I started to send.
I need to be open, apologize for something I didn’t mean to say. Again. But how? How do I even begin to explain my asshole remarks of late when I’m already on probation for the insult I hurled at her years ago? I’m doing my best to ignore Lisa as she chatters away about the kids at her new volunteer center—not because I don’t care, but because she’s been talking about them nonstop. From what she’s described, it’s a great organization that focuses on destructive home life, bullying, and abusiveness in the school. Then I hear her side of the conversation.
“Nice job!” Lisa pauses. “That’s incredible. And we’re so thankful for everything with your publicist.”
My ears pick up at that. Publicist? I close out the text app so I don’t send Kelsey a bunch of gibberish. Instead, I open a Notes page and begin typing the idea for a new text in there while I blatantly eavesdrop.
“Right. Talk about a happy coincidence to see you at the youth center today.” Lisa pauses before exclaiming, “I know, small world! No, that’s crazy that Angel and I only met for the first time. I don’t know how much we’ll be working together; Morgan said she likes to spread us out. She called all hands on deck because you were coming in.” There’s a pause where Lisa listens before a huge smile breaks out across her face. She turns partially away from me before gushing, “Thanks, Kelsey.” My Kelsey? I straighten up, my phone clattering to the counter. Lisa continues blithely on as if she hasn’t just earned an interrogation when her call ends, the likes of which I haven’t given her since I was home from college break and realized she was dating.
“That means a lot. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. It’s been my dream to work with kids who need extra emotional support. And the volunteer work I’m starting for Le Cadeau? It’s a dream come true.” Another pause. “Well, let’s just say after you and Angel left, the kids couldn’t stop talking about the donation of your books.” Another pause. “No, he spent his time reading; he didn’t talk with the others. I agree, so many of those kids are affected by those very issues. Have you given more thought to what you’re going to…really?” Lisa starts jumping up and down like a kangaroo in the kitchen.
I’m more than a little scared, to be honest, even if I plan on attacking this particular kangaroo as soon as she hangs up the phone.
“Okay. Fantastic. So, tomorrow around four? Wonderful! We’ll see you and Angel then! Bye, Kels!” Lisa hangs up the phone with a war whoop that I haven’t heard since her days on the soccer field. Then she turns and stumbles.
“Uh-oh.”
“Not exactly how I would have phrased it. You do realize I—”
“Was a complete ass? Yep,” Lisa chirps.
I glare at Lisa like she’s an opponent in the Bayou boardroom.
“Angel was arguing with Kelsey in the background that she should respond telling you to ‘go to hell’ after one of your texts came in. Kelsey was conflicted,” Lisa confides. “Whatever you did must have been monumental, brother.”
“I said she was still broken,” I admit morosely.
I should have been expecting the punch, but I wasn’t. That’s likely why Lisa managed to knock me off the stool and onto my ass. “Hey,” I protest.
“You do deserve to be called an asshole, Ry!” she shouts. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t!” I yell back. “I couldn’t stand her lumping me in with the people we graduated with!”
Silence descends on the kitchen. “Are you ever going to tell me what they did to you? Are you going to continue to carry the burden? The things you’ve held inside?” Lisa comes around the side of the counter and wraps her arms around me from behind. Her chin rests against my shoulder.
I stiffen. “What makes you think there are things I’m holding back?”
