Page 44 of Late Fees

She nodded, her expression disappointed but warm. “Friends. Oh, and don’t worry—I won’t tell Tilly.”

“Huh?”

“You know, on Tuesday…at a capella. I won’t tell her what you said.”

I shrugged, shaking my head slowly. “It’s not a secret.”

She looked taken aback, like she wasn’t sure how to respond. “Oh.”

“I’ve wasted too much time already, not being honest with other people—or myself. I don’t want to do that anymore. So, my feelings for Tilly? They’re not a secret. I’m in love with that girl, and I have to do something about it.”

“Wow.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to word vomit all over you.” I shook my head, closing my eyes and touching my hand to my forehead. I wasn’t embarrassed by my feelings for Tilly, but I barely knew this girl, and I was unloading my personal shit all over her.

Luckily, the expression on her face told me she didn’t really mind.

“No, that’s, um…that’s romantic, Wyatt. And honestly…it’s kind of bumming me out that you’re not…you know…free.”

“Yeah. I—I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s oddly refreshing…to see a guy so certain, so sure. Tilly’s a lucky girl.”

“Not sure she’d agree with you.”

“Well, now you really need to tell me the whole story.” She waved me away, tears forming in her eyes as she glanced behind her shoulder. “I should get to sleep, it’s like two a.m.”

“All right. Thanks for being so cool, Marissa.”

“You bet.”

I took the elevator back down to my floor with a new sense of purpose. I was going to get Tilly back. I didn’t care if I had to go to Spotlight Video every day that week. I was going to see her. And I was going to beg her to hear me out, to listen to my apology and give me a chance to make things right.

I just needed a chance.

Just one more chance.

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