Page 55 of Ever's Last
“Kind of. I zoned out. Probably not the best time for me to do that.”
“Makes for a great episode.” Brick laughs.
“Asshole.”
“Remember the endgame,” Natalie calls from the side of the cage.
Carson helps me up. “I hope we can do that again, and next time, you don’t have an old man moment.”
I laugh because Sal had said something of the sort about me getting older. That was another reason for the show.
“I’ll show you next time, and your time is coming. You’re not that much younger than me.”
We shake hands and I go to change. I think my next stop is Nebraska.
I toss my bag in the back of the SUV and climb in. I am tired. Traveling and fighting and sleeping is exhausting.
“We’ll be done before you know it,” Brick says as I fall asleep, hoping that next time, Ever will be in my arms. I dream of her.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Ever
The last couple of months have flown by. I’m waiting for my dad and Ivy. They’re going to take me to college. Anne helped me find an apartment online that is near the campus and she gave me pepper spray to carry with me.
“I’ll see you in a few weeks.” Anne hugs me as my dad pulls up.
“I’m excited.”
“Me too. I’m glad we get to do this together.”
I nod and hug her again.
“Take care.” She walks back in as my dad silently loads my few bags.
I slide into the back and buckle in for the long drive, tears filling my eyes as I watch my hometown fade into the distance.
My dad isn’t angry with me, but I think it’s hard when your children leave the nest. Ivy flips on the radio to fill the silence.
“Memphis, you’ve been on this road trip, talking to all these women we’ve seen you with before. Only a couple episodes left. How has this chapter of your life been?”
“Sometimes we have to be adults and I’ve acted like a childish asshole. I hurt people that I care about. But when you let go of the hate and apologize for the harm you caused, there’s a weight that lifts off your chest.”
“What’s next for you?”
“First, I’m going to find the love of my life and tell her that I do love her. Second, I’m getting back in the ring for real.”
“I hope that girl knows how lucky she is.”
“She will.”
Ivy thankfully changes the station.
“Sal won’t tell him unless you want him to,” my dad says. I’m done with that chapter of my life. Time to get on with it.
I don’t say anything. A small part of me wants to believe he loves me. But last time I did, I found out that I didn’t matter.
What if instead of becoming a liar and manwhore, he had come home after his marriage fell apart? What if he had told me sooner? What if he had chosen me that night? I’m not sure if I would still be in his life.
