And then his hands were off me, and he took a step back and said, “I’m going to watch you walk away.”
I didn’t think I could cry harder.
I didn’t think the tears could drip faster.
But both were happening, and I couldn’t control them.
As I took one final look at the man I loved, I clung to the two suitcase handles, squeezing the plastic into my palms.
Good-bye, Oliver.
I turned around and heard him choke, “Bye, Chloe,” as I walked through the glass doors of the terminal.
I waited until I was around the corner, away from the entrance and his line of sight before I rolled my bags to a corner.
And I completely fucking lost it.
Twenty
“Don’t let go,” I cried the second Molly’s arms were around me.
I knew there were people everywhere in baggage claim, several probably staring at us, but I didn’t care. The tears had been flowing since I left Oliver at the airport, and there was no stopping them.
“Hug me tighter.”
“Oh, babe.” Her hands were in the center of my back, squeezing me with half the strength Oliver had used, her scent flowery and wrong but so right. “That flight had to be hell.”
I waited for my chest to calm a little before I said, “The poor man next to me felt so bad that he hugged me at one point.”
“A cocktail would have been much better.”
“I left snot on his shirt.”
“Good girl.”
My arms tightened around her. “I can’t laugh, Molly. Maybe one day. But not today.”
She leaned back and looked at me. “Let’s get you home and get you sloshed. Sound good?”
I shook my head, but it wasn’t for the reason she thought. “Molly …” The words burned in my throat. “He let me go.”
She stared at me for several seconds, reaching into her pocket for a tissue that she held to my face. “Honey, that’s because he’s a good man. If he had told you to stay, you would have.”
“I know.”
“And, babe, that would have been a huge mistake.” She took out another tissue since the first one was soaked and dabbed it over my cheeks. “I know it’s hard to see this right now, but you’re in your senior year with an opportunity of a lifetime. This is where you’re supposed to be.”
She was always so tough, but I needed to hear it.
Still, I couldn’t get past one thing. “He watched me walk away.” I could tell she’d heard me even though I’d whispered.
“And I bet that was the hardest thing Oliver has ever done.” She looped her arm through mine. “I’ve got the vodka already waiting for us in the freezer and every dessert imaginable in our kitchen. We’ll get through this.”
“I don’t know.”
“Trust me.”
Me: Home safe and sound. xo
Oliver: I miss you.
Me: More than you could ever know.
Oliver: Good luck on your first day. You’re going to kill it.
Me: Aww. The perfect message to wake up to. Thank you.
Oliver: How was it? Did you survive day one?
Me: It was amazing. Really, really amazing, and I’m one lucky girl.
Oliver: That makes me so fucking happy. Go have fun with Molly and remember, celebrate your arse off.
Me: Promise. xo
Me: I know I commented on your post, but I’m just so excited you got the job you wanted. Now, I’m the one who’s proud of you. You looked great in that suit, by the way. Missing you.
Oliver: I think I just got over my hangover. My mates made sure I did plenty of celebrating last night. Everyone was asking for you at the pub. I promised them all I’d say hi.
Oliver: Miss you, sweet girl.
Oliver: You’ve got every man in England, including myself, drooling over the American flag. Nice bikini, gorgeous. Happy Independence Day.
Me: Maybe that was my plan all along. ;)
Me: Seeing Jake sing karaoke was one of the funniest things I’ve ever watched. Looks like your trip to Ibiza was incredible.
Oliver: We had a blast, but we all agreed America would have been great too. I know uni is starting soon if it hasn’t already. Have a good start, and remember what I said …
Me: I’m making you proud, Oliver. Every day.
I knew it would happen one day. I’d be scrolling through my feed, and I’d come across a picture of Oliver with another girl. And I knew it would be hard, but I hadn’t expected to feel like this.
We weren’t talking every day; we weren’t even talking every few weeks.
But, God, I loved him.
Still.
And I was clinging to our memories, but I was the only one doing it because he had found someone else.
I didn’t know who she was; she wasn’t someone I’d met before.
It didn’t matter. She was there … and I wasn’t.
I had known one of us would move on far sooner than the other, and there was no question who it would be.
I just hadn’t expected it to change everything.
My finger hovered over his profile while I took several deep breaths. His account was private. If I unfollowed him, I would lose access to his pictures and to his life.
But it was a life that no longer included me.
I clicked Unfollow, and then I removed him from my account.
I pulled the blanket over my head, burying myself in my bed, and I let out the deepest, most gut-wrenching scream.
But it was silent.
Part Two
I’ve found forever … in you.
Twenty-One
“Chloe, do you see something wrong with this picture?” Molly asked, staring at me from the doorway of my closet with her hands on her hips.
“I’m getting up.” I sighed, stretching my toes, feeling the ache from wearing heels all day. “I just need five more minutes, and then I’ll get dressed.”
I had been at the office until almost ten last night and back there again at six this morning.
Even my hair was tired.
But I’d promised Molly I would go out with her, and there was absolutely no way she was going to let me cancel.
“One more minute, and you’re going to be out cold.” She put her finger in the air and rolled it toward her. “Get over here, missy.”
Reluctantly, I threw the blanket off and climbed out of bed. “Where did all your energy come from? Did you call in sick and sleep all day and not tell me?” I asked, making my way over to her.
“I’ve had three Red Bulls, and I’m getting laid tonight. That should explain everything.”
I laughed. “God, I love you. Now, what do you want me to wear?”
She grinned as she reached for one of the hangers. “This.”
She took a black dress off the rack that I’d bought a few weeks ago at a boutique by my office. It was tight in the areas it needed to be, accentuating every curve on my body. And because all I did was work, I had nowhere to wear it.