Page 79 of The Escape Plan

His apology catches me off guard. Every time I’ve met him, he’s acted so condescending towards Keeley, I’d taken him for someone who thinks he’s never wrong.

But I don’t want to speak for Keeley or her feelings by accepting his apology, so I just give him a brusque nod.

“I know you and Keeley are tight,” Andrew goes on, dragging the edge of his sneaker back and forth along the sidewalk. “And that seemed to happen so fast. I think… I was jealous.”

“You were with Lisa,” I say pointedly.

He holds up his hands. “And I had no right to be jealous. I was—am—with Lisa. It took me a while to understand why I was feeling that way. I actually talked with Lisa about it at length before coming to the conclusion that the jealousy I felt was misplaced. A gut reaction to watching the woman I dated for years look so happy and content and relaxed with someone she’d just met. More so than she ever acted with me in the five years we were together.”

I can… kind of understand that. The fact that he’s apologizing actually makes me think he’s grown somewhat with Lisa. I feel some of my iciness towards Andrew begin to thaw.

“I think, deep down, Keeley and I both knew for a long time that we weren’t right for each other. And it took me a while to accept that.” He shrugs. “I’m happy with Lisa. She fits with me in a way Keeley never did. And when I see Keeley with you, it’s clear I didn’t fit with her either, no matter how hard I tried. Whereas you seem to fit with her so effortlessly.” He clears his throat. “And I get why you feel the way you do about me. But for what it’s worth, I want you to know that I’m happy for her. For you both.”

“Thank you, Andrew,” I say. “I appreciate you saying that—although I do think you’re saying it to the wrong person.”

Because what else is there to say? It’s the truth.

I know this feeling all too well. It’s what I had with Roisin—a relationship that was wrong, but that was hard to let go of in the moment, and with hindsight, it ending was clearly the right thing. Allowed her to find the right person in Frank Doherty, apparently.

Now, I have found the person who is oh-so-right for me in so many ways. And if what Andrew’s saying is true, I’m right for her in those ways, too.

We were meant to meet this summer…

Keeley’s words mingle in my mind with Gran’s favorite saying—what’s for you won’t pass you.

I have no idea what the future holds, but if anything is crystal clear to me in the present, it’s that what’s for me is spending time with Keeley for whatever time we have left. Not letting it pass without making the most of it.

“I know.” Andrew nods at me. “And next time I run into Keeley, I’ll tell her all of this too. Apologize to her.”

I nod back. “Good.”

“I’m… glad she has you.”

“I’m glad I have her,” I reply. Because it’s true—for whatever time I have with her, I’m exceedingly grateful. “See you around, Andrew.”

As I walk into Blue Notes, I take my phone out of my pocket.

Becks

Are you free tonight?

The response is almost immediate.

Keeley

Yes.

Keeley

Why do you ask?

Becks

Because I’d like to ask you on a second date.

Keeley

I’d like to accept.

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