The Manor She Left Behind by Catherine Gupta

Author:Catherine Gupta [Gupta, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quiet Nook
Published: 2023-09-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

The second she woke up the next morning, Addy called Jade.

“I ran out of there without a word of explanation, not so gracefully of course, and then before I knew it, I was back at the apartment. He must think I’m a mess. I feel like a mess. I mean, who does that?”

Addy could hear laughing from the other end. “Seriously, Jade? Could you stop laughing and regain your composure long enough to make me feel better?”

“Sorry, sorry! It’s just so classic. I mean, I can picture you practically diving out of that truck bed. Maybe he thinks you didn’t hear him and just had to use the bathroom?”

“Unfortunately, all signs pointed to me hearing it, freaking out, and running away. I have no idea what he’s thinking.”

“Okay, in all seriousness, do you know why you got overwhelmed? The suntanned captain guy asked you out and your reaction was very level-headed. Still proud of you for that. But what is it about Hayden that caused this reaction?”

Addy whispered, like the town was somehow listening in. “I really like him and I can easily see things getting serious with him one day. But I can’t give my heart to someone else and risk losing them.”

“Wait, you mean like Simon? Or are we talking about something else here?”

“My mom. It always seems to come back to her. We were so close and I loved her so much. To give my love to another person feels overwhelmingly terrifying because that means the potential of losing them someday. If I’m being completely honest with myself, Simon never scared me in that way because he was a comfort, but not someone I was deeply connected to. That kept me protected.”

“Damn. That’s insightful.”

“But even in the brief time I’ve known Hayden, I can feel that loving him would mean losing that safe distance. And last night, hearing that he’s interested in me and a romantic partnership, it just brought it all up.”

“Love that you just said the words ‘romantic partnership.’ I think the old ladies you’re hanging out with are getting to you. But seriously, I hear you. You’re scared. And Addy, losing your mother like you did was bound to affect the way you look at life and make you want to protect yourself. But you, my friend, deserve more than an average life spent distancing yourself out of fear of getting hurt. I don’t know how your life will go, but I can promise that Mae would have wanted you to fully live and risk that pain.”

“I know.”

The friends sat silently on the phone for a moment.

“Addy? Are you okay?”

“I am. It feels good to say all of this out loud. I’m really lucky to have you, you know?”

“Oh, I know. And that goes both ways. Now, how are you going to handle things with Hayden?”

“Oh, that situation? It’s hopeless.”

“Oh stop, Drama Queen. Maybe you just need a little more time. To heal and really focus inward.”

“I’m sorry, are you an investment banker or psychologist?” Addy said, smiling.

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