Page 121 of Book Boyfriends
That declaration roars through me. I deserve to be someone’s first choice, especially my own.
“You deserved better… For what it’s worth, what I did to you is the biggest mistake of my life. It hurt you, and it hurts Lena. I am so sorry,” he whispers.
“You may be, but that doesn’t matter to me anymore.”
It really doesn’t. In the initial breakup text exchange, followed by the tearful in-person and then telephone exchanges with him, Will’s apologies were nonexistent. Each interaction was just gaslighting bullshit used as weapons to make me believe it was my fault. His apology means nothing to me, because at the end of the day, what I wanted more than his remorse was that this all had never happened. As painful as what happened was, I know it’s just part of the twists and turns of my story leading me to my next chapter. One where I don’t settle for less than what I deserve—from my partner and, above all, from myself.
Even now, despite the hint of remorse in his features, his apology means nothing. It’s not about me or his actions. It’s about Lena. He regrets that his actions cause her pain, not that they hurt me. For Will, it’s always been about Lena. From the moment he met me, it was her he wanted. This isn’t like with James, where he realized the error of his ways.
“I know you can’t forgive me, but can you forgive her? She misses you.” His stare implores.
“No,” I say simply. “I may not be hurt anymore, but I don’t trust either of you. You blame yourself for this, but honestly, both of you betrayed me.”
“I understand,” he says, swallowing thickly.
“I hope you make her happy. That you’re good to her… Better than you were to me.”
“I am,” he says. “At least, I try. I don’t deserve her, but she still loves me.”
“Well, you clearly have a type.” I let out a humorless laugh. “I do wish the best for you both, please know that.”
“I wish the best for you, as well.”
“Goodbye, Will.”
“Goodbye, Georgia.” With a quick nod, he turns and walks towards the tuxedo shop.
Hope shuffles over, wrapping her arm around me. “That was a lot.”
“Yeah.” I sigh.
“How are you?”
“Weirdly okay.” I place my head on her shoulder. “Did you really toss your frozen yogurt at him?”
“Yeah, I kind of regret that.”
“Because you’re still hungry.”
“Yeah.” She pouts.
“Let’s go get you a refresher.” I lift my head from her shoulder.
Unclenching my hand, my vision catches on the three pennies resting in my palm. I’d held tight to them throughout the entire exchange. Something swoops in my stomach at the three coins glistening in the late afternoon sun like little beacons leading me home. Examining them closer, my heart stutters.
“Hope, I have an idea.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
HAPPY ENDINGS
It was right in front of me all along!The potential solution is as crystal clear as the building in front of me. Parking my car at SPN, I grab my purse and hop out. Hope is back at the house. My bestie may ride shotgun for my big life events, but after a Braxton Hicks contraction as we walked to my car, we opted to drop her at home.
Before dropping Hope off, we called Jackson to bring the guys to SPN. Then I reached out to Kerry, who I knew was working today, for a favor. Reaching the main courtyard entrance, a sign that readsClosed for Maintenanceis posted on the door, and my mouth lifts into a thankful smile.
“There are signs on all the entrances like you asked. Is everything okay?” Kerry asks as I enter the courtyard.
My steps halt. “Ahh… Yeah, I just need the courtyard for somethingauthor-related.” My tone comes off shiftier than I mean it to.
