Page 132 of To Love or to Lose
“I’ll miss you,” she cries.
“I’m going to miss you too, Mae.” She pulls away from me, wiping the tears from her face. “Have you told Gen yet?”
This question has been hanging in the air since I told the Callaghan’s my decision to leave last night, along withhowI’m going to tell her.
“Not yet,” I reply.
The truth is, I’ve been putting off telling her because I know there’s a possibility she’s going to be disappointed. Not only because she’s going to feel as though I forfeited our competition, but also because we both know our feelings for each other have developed way beyond that. I know it’s going to hurt her for me to leave just as much as it will pain me.
But I know it’s for the better.
Even if my heart feels like it’s being ripped in two.
If I knew this was how everything was going to turn out, I would have never kissed her, I would have never gone on that date with her, just to spare her the pain.
“Jameson.” Mae looks upset by my response. “You leave in three hours.”
I run a hand through my hair, conflicted. “I don’t know what I’m going to say to her.”
“I think the fact that she’s the only one you haven’t told is enough in itself,” she says.
“Okay.” I grab the handle of my luggage, finally shutting the door to my bedroom for the last time. “I’m going to go over to her house and tell her sometime before I leave.”
“Good,” she replies, urging me toward the staircase with a gentle shove. “Now, go.”
I laugh as we make our way down the steps. I guess I’m going now.
After a sad and drawn-out goodbye with the rest of the Callaghans, Logan has agreed to take me to Genevieve’s house before he takes me to the airport.
My plane leaves in a little over three hours, which means I have less than two hours to talk to Genevieve before I have to be at the airport.
Logan pulls into the driveway of the Alderidge house, parking his car near the garage. “You go ahead,” he tells me.
What he’s really saying is he doesn’t want to bear witness to Genevieve’s reaction.
I make my way to the front door, looking through the small window next to it. I see the foyer’s light is on, and there is movement further in the house.
I hold up my hand to knock before I notice the doorbell.I sigh, ringing the doorbell before I hear the echo of the sound inside the house.
I see more movement through the hallway and foyer before the door opens.
“Hi.” I greet Genevieve’s mom. “I’m Jameson, Genevieve’s…” I trail off, not knowing whether she remembers me or not.
“Oh, I know who you are.” Her mom smiles, opening the door further and waving me in. “Are you hungry? We just finished making dinner. I could make you a plate.”
“No, thank you,” I tell her, sliding my shoes off once I step in the foyer. “I’m kind of on a time crunch, and I was wondering if I could talk to Genevieve?”
“Yes, go ahead.” She smiles. “She’s upstairs, first door on the left.”
“Thank you.” I nod to her quickly before jogging up the stairs.
I knock on Genevieve’s bedroom door, rocking back and forth on my heels while waiting for a response.
I don’t know what I am waiting for. Maybe for her to yell ‘Come in!’or ‘Who is it?’And yet, I am still taken aback when the door opens, revealing a more casual Genevieve than I’m used to seeing. She’s only wearing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.
“Oh—” She jumps, clearly not expecting me.
“Hey,” I say, emotion clogging my throat as she sidesteps to make room for me to enter her bedroom.
