Page 111 of Every Broken Promise
“Don’t forget about my wedding party next week,” Ori had reminded me as we headed toward our cars. Since she was a political reporter, next week would have her all over the county, and I wouldn’t see much of her.
Her small celebration was fast approaching, and I was going to have to break the news to Ty that I wouldn’t be home and explain why I couldn’t take him. Going with a man to a wedding was like the ultimate form of coming out, and so far, we hadn’t made it out of my room. My parents still didn’t know he wascoming over—at least, I hoped they didn’t. It’s more of an embarrassment thing at this point than being ashamed.
I was excited to go and celebrate Ori, but I was also going to be Rachel’s moral support. It turns out her man was Ori’s husband’s best friend.
All that drama aside, this week had been productive.
I was already starting to plan my next spotlight article. In one of our many sleepover pillow talks, I admitted to Tyler that even if things still had been rocky between us, I would have caved and ended up writing an article on Kanes’ Auto. Now I would wait until they at least broke ground on the remodeling. That way, the people could get excited about the changes that were to come.
When I got home, I didn’t even bother to go into my house; instead, I made a beeline for Rachel’s.
“Where’s Prescott? I had expected him to be here,” I questioned Rachel as I walked into her house. Ever since she made peace with her ex-husband, he’s been spending his nights here.
I made appearances here and there, but since Ty had been spending nights atmyhouse, it kept Rach and I from digging too much into the other’s business.
“He couldn’t make it today. He had something to do.” Rachel shrugged it off, but I could tell it bothered her.
If I could talk to Tyler after four years of heartbreak, she could face her fears, too.
“Why are you still here?” I demanded as I pointed to the drawer where she stored the notes her ex-husband would write her. Notes she had refused to read, and it’s been months since she got the first one.
That was probably why Rachel and I got along so well. We were both runners. We found running away from our problems easier than dealing with them. We were kindred spirits that way.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
I crossed my arms and began to tap my foot impatiently.
The one thing that stuck with me was the wonder on Ty’s face when I touched him. The awe in his voice because I had initiated contact. He had been starving for me, and I had kept that from him. Was Rachel holding back the same way I was?
“I mean, why don’t you go over to be with him? I’m sure he will love that.”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose.” She waved me off.
“Don’t do that, Rach.”
“Do what?”
Was this how stubborn I had been these past few weeks? Ty was a saint for putting up with me.
“Don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you,” I told Rach, hoping that if I called her out, it would give her strength.
Look at me, the pot calling the kettle black.
“What am I doing?” Rachel stared me down.
We all needed someone to call us out on our bullshit, right?
“You can’t be half in with something like this. You are either all in, or you want nothing at all.”
I had to admit that I wasn’t sure if I was speaking just about her.
“It’s not that simple,” she bit back. “I can’t go back to that town.”
Her lips quivered, and boy was that sentiment one I knew too well.
“Now that, I get. Do you think I wanted to come back home after I tried so hard to get away from this freaking place?”
Rachel didn’t say a word, so I kept going.
