Page 92 of The Design of Goodbye
I remembered Amy mentioning her acceptance to Joffrey Ballet School. “To New York?”
She nodded. “I’m terrified I’m going to lose her. Invisible Thread is here. Mydreamis here. I’m worried our dreams are too different. Is it silly to want to stay together, even though our paths are about to go in completely different directions?”
“I don’t think so,” I said softly. “Not if you like her.”
“Iloveher.”
“Then, your relationship is definitely worth fighting for.” I didn’t know how to comfort her, here in this tiny car, so I hoped my words were enough.
“I’m worried she’ll think it’s not, and she won’t want to eventryto have a long-distance relationship.”
I hugged Liam’s sketchbook to my chest. Liam and I weren’t even dating, but I couldn’t imagine losing him now that he was in my life. I understood the pain Taylor was going through, at least a little.
“You should talk to her,” I said after a while, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. I didn’t have much relationship experience. I wasn’t the best person to give advice, but I was desperate to help her.
“We need to.” She sighed. “I’ve been putting it off.”
“Maybe she’s worried about the future, too. Maybe she’s also scared to bring it up.”
“Maybe.”
“Well,” I added, “until you’re ready to talk to her about it, I can be here to listen. If you want.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so glad we’re friends.”
Friends.
That word felt like a hug.
Unable to find the right words to express myself, all I said was “I’m glad we’re friends, too” and hoped it was enough.
Her phone lit up, showing the time. Almost nine. “You better go,” she said. “I don’t want you to miss Liam if he stops by.”
“You sure?”
“Go.”
When I got to my car, I turned around to wave goodbye, only to find Taylor already doing the same. She was grinning too—like me.
I wondered if I’d made her night like she’d made mine.
chapter thirty-two
My hands shook as I watched Jules’s recent post on Whirl. I couldn’t believe her. I couldn’t believe I’deverbeen friends with someone so cruel.
She’d recorded a video of Liam’s panic attack and posted it online for everyone to see. I was grateful Liam didn’t have social media because, while the video was bad, the comments were worse:
What a freak!
Funniest shit I’ve seen all week.
Dude needs help...
Thanks for this!
I would’ve read every single one of those two hundred and seventeen comments if Taylor hadn’t texted me.
In urgent need of a pop and chocolate.
