Page 119 of From This Moment (After We Fall 4)
“Margot feels sorry for you,” Jack said.
“So does Georgia,” added Pete. “Trust me. She’s been talking about it all. Day. Long.”
I grimaced. “Sorry.”
We ordered some food and a couple beers. “What are you gonna do?” he asked.
“What can I do? She doesn’t want me.”
His expression was puzzled, and he paused with his beer bottle halfway to his mouth. “That’s not how I heard it.”
“How did you hear it?”
“I heard she wants you, but she’s scared of your mom and a bunch of other shit in her head.”
“My mom.” I had to take a few long swallows from my beer before I could even think about her. “I’m so mad at her. I moved out.”
“You did? Where?” Pete asked.
I hesitated, feeling guilty. “To that inn on Huron. The bed and breakfast.”
“What? Why didn’t you just come to my house?”
“Or mine?” said Jack.
“Because I didn’t want to get in your way and I wasn’t sure how your wives felt. The scene was pretty ugly.”
Pete punched my arm. “Fuck you. We’ve been friends for thirty years. You should have come to us.”
I held up my hands. “Sorry, sorry. I’m fucking things up left and right.”
“Did you really not know about the girl?” Jack asked.
I shook my head. “I had no idea. That was all my mother. But was stupid of me to even sit there with her. Hannah was right, I should have just walked out.”
“Georgia thinks the thing with the birthday dinner was the bigger deal,” said Pete. “Like it confirmed in her mind that you wouldn’t choose her if it came
to that.”
“But I would. That’s the thing, I would. I don’t know how she doesn’t see that.”
“Because she’s blinded by fear.” Jack spoke firmly. “She associates love with loss, and she thinks she’s protecting herself. The human mind can be a scary place.”
“I know,” I said miserably. “And I promised her everything would be okay. I promised her I’d find a way for us. And I failed.”
“No, you didn’t.” Jack sat up taller. “I mean, you might have made some mistakes, but you’re human. Don’t give up on her. If she’s anything like me, she needs time.”
“But I gave her time. I said she could have as long as she wanted.”
He shook his head. “No. She needs to think you really walked away. She needs to own the fact that she chose that, and then realize she was wrong. But it takes time.”
“Really?”
He picked up his beer. “Trust me on this.”
Pete exhaled. “I feel for you, man. I don’t have any advice, but I feel for you. And you’re always welcome at our place.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” It didn’t make up for losing Hannah, but it was good to know. “I should be able to move into my own house end of next week, although I need to buy some furniture. I don’t even have a bed.”
