Page 65 of Always a Chance
“It’s not like it’s hard to confuse Johnny,” Shane muttered. I couldn’t even muster up a half-hearted laugh at his attempt at a joke. He always had the worst timing.
As the three of them fought over whether or not I should say goodbye, I caught sight of Aidan walking in and knew what I needed to do.
“I have to see her.” I stood, ignoring their questions, and hurried to the front, where Aidan stood with Callie.
“Sorry, Cal.” I grabbed Aidan’s arm. “I need him. Oh, and my dinner is on Finley. She says your waitress will get a fabulous tip too.”
“Wait,” Aidan said as I pulled him into the lot. “I’m hungry.”
“That’ll have to wait. I need a ride.”
“Where’s your car?”
“At the beach. I rode here with Tanner.” And I did not want any of my siblings along for this goodbye. If Talia had to leave, I wanted it to be on good terms.
Aidan stopped fighting me, and we got into his old man station wagon. The jokes wrote themselves, but I wasn’t in the mood.
He pulled out of the lot. “Am I to assume I’m heading toward Talia’s house?”
“Yes. I’m pretty sure my grandmother drives faster than you. Come on.”
He sent me a scowl, but he also sped up.
The car rolled to a stop at the curb, and I jumped out, running up the lawn to the front porch. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say to her, and I wasn’t ready to forgive her, but she was my person, my best friend. I couldn’t let her leave a second time without telling her that.
I knocked, and Gianna’s voice yelled, “Come in, Johnny.”
Walking into the living room, I immediately knew something was wrong. Gianna and her father sat impossibly still. He had his face buried in his hands, and she was more stoic than I’d ever seen her.
“How did you know it was me?” I asked.
“Finley texted me that you were on your way, and I wasn’t allowed to let you do anything stupid.”
“Like rush over here to see a woman who betrayed me?”
A sad smile tilted her lips. “That’s not stupid. It’s just who you are. You don’t give up on people.”
I leaned down to hug her. “Where is she?”
Her dad answered, “I missed my chance. She was right here, and I couldn’t tell her.”
I’d never seen the man break down before, but it left a clawing in my throat.
“Where is she?” I asked again.
Gianna sighed. “Gone. She already left.”
31
TALIA
“You know it’s good.” I pointed to the printed article on Mr. Irons’s desk. “This is the best thing I’ve written.”
I delivered the feature on Johnny to Mr. Irons as soon as I got back to the office a week ago. It had to be vetted by legal and read by a few members of the board, and now a decision needed to be made.
No matter what happened between me and Johnny, I’d do this for him, so he could live the life he wanted to.
Mr. Irons picked up the article I was sure he’d read more than a few times by now. “This… Johnny… he’s just a guy?”
