Page 93 of After We Fall (After We Fall 2)
She smiled, her eyes lighting up. “So what’s holding you back?”
“A lot of things.” I stared at the ice cubes in my glass. “I fucked things up really badly, Georgia.”
“I know.”
Something hitched in my chest. “You’ve talked to her?”
Georgia paused, and I sensed she didn’t want to betray Margot’s confidence. “Yes.”
“I mean it when I say I fucked up. I hurt her.”
“Ask forgiveness.”
She made it sound so easy. “What if she says no?”
“What if she says yes?” Georgia countered.
“She could have so much better. Someone with money and cars and—”
“She wants you. Trust me.”
I looked her in the eye and spoke the truth. “I’m scared.”
“I know you are. And it’s gonna take some hard work, but I bet it’ll be worth it. I know it’ll be worth it, Jack. Even if Margot isn’t the one, you have to do this for you. It’s time.”
Nodding, I let her words sink in. “It’s three years tomorrow.”
“I know,” she said softly, her eyes tearing up. “But Jack, Steph would be the first one to tell you that you’re not honoring her by refusing to move on.” She reached out and touched my arm. “You’ve been using her to punish yourself. It’s time to let her go. I know it hurts, but it’s time.”
My throat closed, and I had to look away from Georgia’s tears before my own started to fall.
The following day, I went to the cemetery. Sitt
ing in front of the stone the way I always did, I imagined Steph beside me and concentrated on the memory of her voice.
“Hey. I need to talk to you.”
What’s up?
My throat tightened. “This is hard.”
Talk to me.
I swallowed hard. “I met someone.”
Good.
“Is it?”
Why wouldn’t it be?
“Because she’s making me doubt myself. She’s making me reconsider things I’d already decided.”
Like what?
“Like getting involved with someone again. Letting myself fall in love again. Spending my life with someone instead of being alone.”
Sounds serious. What’s she like?
