Chapter 41
Chapter 2
I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes, even though I’d once known that face by heart. “I’m not mad. I just
want to know what changed p>
The truth had a way of making everything simpler. Now I could finally let it go.
Sean and I were childhood sweethearts. After my father died, Mom threw herself into her export business, chasing deals across Europe and Asia.
Most nights, it was just my grandma and me in a house that felt too big.
The judgmental relatives circled like vultures, their whispers just loud enough for me to catch. Mom was a workaholic who’d abandoned her daughter. We were a broken family, falling apart without a father figure.
I’d lock myself in the bathroom to cry, muffling the sobs so my grandma wouldn’t hear.
That was when Sean showed up. He’d stand up to those relatives without flinching, cutting them off before their poison could hit.
Every day after school, he’d show up with ice cream, the one thing he knew could make me smile.
After that, I was glued to his side. We walked to school together, buried ourselves in textbooks at the library, and stayed up late talking about everything we’d do someday.
We’d apply to the top programs in Europe, lose ourselves in new cities and languages, walk hand-in-hand through winter streets. Once we got there, we’d finally start our real lives together,
Then, a year ago, Sarah appeared.
Mrs. Hunter had taken her on as a charity case, a scholarship kid from an underfunded school out in the sticks. She transferred in for senior year and moved into their guest room,
Sean treated her like she was part of the décor at first. At home, he’d barely acknowledge her presence.
At school, he made sure there was always distance between them.
Sarah trailed after him like a lost puppy, all hesitant steps and downcast eyes.
She’d laugh too loud at his jokes, save him a seat in the cafeteria, and always manage to be right there whenever he turned around.
Something about the way she worked so hard for scraps of his attention tugged at me. I’d been that girl once, desperate and powerless.
When Sean brushed her off, I found myself stepping in, striking up conversations she was too shy to start. I
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even urged Sean to be gentler with her. But he always remained indifferent.
Later, we all got into the same university. Sarah had chosen nursing because it was the most straightforward way in. The major with the lowest bar to clear, the surest path to staying close to Sean.
One afternoon, we stopped by to pick up some handouts and found Sarah alone in an empty classroom, hunched over a GRE verbal passage with tears streaming down her face.
I watched Sean’s expression flicker through shock, guilt, something that looked like pity. In hindsight, there was probably tenderness there too, the kind I was too naive to recognize.
From that point on, his attitude changed.
Our weekend plans kept getting canceled so he could tutor Sarah in English. He’d walk her to class, running interference against the rumors that followed her down the hallway.
This afternoon, his text came in: he was turning down Kingsley. He’d stay here for grad school. With Sarah.
Disappointment and shock hit first, but underneath it was something unexpected, relief. Like I’d been holding my breath for months and could finally exhale.
Sean had already decided I’d follow wherever he went, that I’d abandon my own plans without question. He walked off with Sarah without even asking what I’d decided.
Mona and I were the last ones to arrive at the senior dinner. Sean and Sarah had claimed seats up right in
the center of the table.
I scanned the room and settled into a chair as far from him as possible. I didn’t catch the confusion that flashed across his face when he looked at me.
Jack Vance, one of Sean’s buddies, grinned from across the table. “Why’re you all the way over there, Lily? Better stake your claim before someone snatches him up p>
The whole table knew exactly who he meant. Sarah blushed, sneaking a shy glance at Sean instead of
protesting.
Tom Miller jumped in before the silence could stretch too long. “Come on, cut it out. Those two have been together forever. They’re both heading to Europe for grad school, right, Lily p>
Before I could open my mouth, Sarah’s quiet voice cut through. “Actually, Sean turned down Kingsley. He thought going abroad would be too hard on me, so he’s staying here p>
Chapter 2
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