Chapter Twenty-One
Leah
I run from the hotel so fast I trip over my feet a few times on the sidewalk, straight up face-planting at one point. Random people walking on the street help me back to my feet, pushing me on my way. Nobody wants to deal with a hysterical woman in the streets. I’m sure I look crazy, but I deserve everything that happened a few minutes ago up in that hotel room.
I deserve the cold version of Nick I never knew existed. He isn’t my fairy tale prince. He’s just another person, hurt by the selfish actions I’ve made. He’ll never be evil like Ethan, but men are all the same, only willing to listen when it benefits them. Only willing to forgive if we submit to them. Well, I’m done with it. Finished with men forever.
"Leah?" a familiar voice squawks from across the street.
My eyes fall on the sister of the person who ripped my heart out only moments ago. Her eyes widen as the other two members of their band stand still as statues, shocked to see me.
Carrie takes off across the street, getting honked at by cars that nearly run her over. "What are you doing here?" she asks once she finally reaches me. "What happened to you? Where'd you go?"
My head shakes back and forth. "I can't…I have to go."
I try brushing past, but she grabs my arms, pulling me back to look at her. "Don't go," she pleads, her eyes filled with as much despair as mine. Had I hurt her too when I left? How many more people would I hurt? "Nick's at the hotel. Come back with us."
My head shakes again. "I was just there."
"You were?" Sean asks, finally joining us a few moments later. I assume he and Michael had waited patiently to cross the street legally, unlike Carrie. Sean’s eyes are wide and filled with worry as he steps next to her. "Where's Nick? What happened?"
Another tear escapes as I pull from Carrie's grasp. "It doesn’t matter. I fucked up, and I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have run away like I did. I wanted to find myself, but I did it the wrong way. I hurt all of you, and I understand if you’re all done with me forever."
Carrie shakes her head, grabbing both my arms now. The people walking by us on the street barely notice my life falling apart out in the open for all to see. "We were never done with you, and Nick isn’t either. He loves you. I know it. Don't give up on him. Don’t give up on us. We can go back to Austin together. You can room with Sean and me until you and Nick figure everything out."
Wiggling out of her grasp, I shake my head for the final time. "I can't do that. I have family here. I can't up and leave them for something I can't save. I'm done, and I wish you all the best. You showed me what it was like to have friends, and I'm sorry I ruined it."
"You didn’t ruin anything," Michael finally speaks, scrubbing his face with his hand. His eyes are soft as he replaces Carrie by my side, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You can't help your past." Sean and Carrie both nod. "We don't hate you. You did what you had to."
Now I’m seriously bawling in the street. "We won’t give up on you," Carrie promises, throwing her arms around me. I hug her back as Sean and Michael join in.
I never thought in a million years I'd get sandwiched between these three, but it’s nice. Maybe I’m not such a bad person after all. Bad circumstances, sure. Bad upbringing, yep. But I’m changing. Turning into someone who isn’t weak and doesn’t let her past define her.
"I'll keep trying," I declare once we pull apart. They all smile at me. "I'll get my life together, and I'll come visit you all when I do."
"That's the spirit," Sean says, slugging my arm.
Carrie cups my cheeks. "And Nick will realize how much of a stupid jerk he was. I promise you that." She pulls me to her and kisses my cheek. "To be continued?"
I nod. "To be continued."