Page 196 of The Long Way Home

Henry stands, looks a bit sorry. I give him a small smile.

“Have fun,” I tell them.

“Love you.” She kisses her hand and smacks it into Bridget’s forehead.

Then she walks away, doesn’t say goodbye to me, does flip my hat again though. Suppose that’s better.

I catch my brother’s eye, toss him my Barclay’s Infinite card and nod after her.

She’s right. One of the Ballentines should be buying her things. Should be me.

Henry gives me a small wink, kisses Bridget’s head and goes after Parks who’s speed-walked out of here.

I watch them go, can tell I look sadder on the outside than I want to.

“Do you think that’s true?” I ask eventually, looking back at her.

“What?” She pours us some water. “That you’ll just be together again one day?”

I nod.

“No.” She shakes her head.

I swallow, drop her eyes. Fuck.

“But—” She ducks her head to see me. “I do think probably one day you’ll both just… decide to be together and it’ll work.” Kind of says that like it’s just a confusing truth.

I squint over at her.

“But you’re not there yet,” she tells me with a sharp smile. “Neither of you are willing to do the things you need to do to make it work yet.”

Gives me a dismissive shrug.

I frown at her.

“I’d do anything for her.”

She nods once, watching me closely.

“Except lose face.”

I open my mouth to say something back but nothing comes.

Fuck.

She gives me a look that’s wiser than a twenty-two-year-old should be capable of.

“Pride suffocates relationships, Beej.”

“She’s proud,” I say back.

“Yeah.” She nods. “She is, insanely so. Probably the only thing she is more than proud is afraid, though. Don’t you think?”

That one sinks me like a fucking stone.

Afraid?

Fuck.

I hate the thought of her being afraid.

I hate even more that I’m the one making her like that.

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