right. But LeFranc had been my dream. And with that dream completely shattered and ground into powder, it was hard to think about working anywhere else. Not when I’d come so close. “You know I don’t have the cash to stay, Paige. I have two hundred dollars in my savings account. Even if I did manage to find a job and a cheaper place, there’s no way I could cover a security deposit and first month’s rent.”
“But I could help,” Paige said. “Go in for the first couple of months until you can find another roommate.”
“You’re sweet to offer, but you know that doesn’t make any sense. You’re getting married in less than three months. You need to save as much cash as you can. And you’re basically living at Reese’s now anyway. There’s no reason to keep this place.”
Paige collapsed onto the bed, pulling me down beside her and weaving my arm through hers. “I could call my dad. I wouldn’t even have to tell him it was for you. I can fake a reason to need a few thousand dollars. You know he’d send it.” She propped herself up on her elbow, shooting me a pointed look. “Or you could just ask your parents. Why haven’t we discussed that option yet?”
“No. Absolutely not. If I ask my parents for cash, they’ll freak out and panic and race home from Europe to save me. Which is exactly what I don’t need. And we can’t ask your parents because they’ll tell my parents. I don’t want anybody’s help, Paige. This was my dream. My choice. That means it’s my failure, too. I have to own it.”
“You haven’t failed, Dani. It’s just a little setback.”
I shrugged, pulling her back down so we lay side by side again. I leaned my head onto her shoulder. “Maybe. But either way, a break might be good for me. I miss Charleston. Going home could be good.”
“Except you aren’t going home. You’re going to Isaac’s. That’s totally different.”
I’d actually checked the availability on my parent’s house to see if it was vacant, but it was booked solid until Christmas. At least Isaac had a house big enough to accommodate me. At least, I hoped he did. He did have five roommates. “Isaac’s will just be a place to sleep. Charleston is home. The beach is home. I need that right now.”
We lay there silently for a few moments until Paige asked, “How are you going to face him, Dani?” She didn’t have to explain that she was asking about Alex.
My head started pounding, a nauseating thump thump reverberating in my ears and behind my eyes. Showing up on Isaac’s doorstep was going to be hard enough. He’d probably howl with laughter, but he’d eventually be nice. But Alex? How would I ever admit that all along, he’d been right about Sasha?
“I have no idea,” I finally answered. “He’s too good to say I told you so, which is almost worse.”
“You still haven’t called Isaac yet, have you?”
I pulled a pillow from behind me and slid it over my face.
“Dani. You have to call him. You can’t just show up.”
“Why not? I actually think my odds are better if I do. I mean, he can’t refuse me if I’m standing on his porch with a suitcase.”
“Yes, he totally can. And that would be a lot more embarrassing.”
“He wouldn’t do it. He’s my brother. Even if all he can offer is a couch, he can’t leave me out in the cold.”
“Especially as ferocious as the winters are in Charleston. You’d definitely freeze to death.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”
“Want to know why I think you won’t call him?”
I peeked an eye out from behind the pillow. “Why?”
She sat up, pulling the pillow off my face and holding it in her lap, her legs crossed under her. She cleared her throat. “Even though you doubt whether or not Isaac will let you move in, you feel one hundred percent confident that Alex will not let him turn you out. He will advocate for you no matter what. And that makes you happy, because Alex, but also angry and annoyed and frustrated, because Alex. Alex who is still firmly on your hate list and therefore not able to do anything nice for you. Or be in any place where he might try to further convince you that he’s actually very sorry for hurting you so thoroughly because, again, hate list. You pointed out the fact that he was actually