Never Got Over You -Whitney G. Page 0,65
was calling to buy you a plane ticket and a hotel room for a little while. Let me know where you’re trying to go, and I’ll get it right now. What city?”
“Los Angeles.”
“No, that’s too close.”
“New York?”
“Too far.”
“Phoenix?”
“Yes, that’s a good idea...” She paused. “I think there’s a Four Seasons there, too.”
“It doesn’t have to be a five-star hotel.”
“Of course, it does.” There was a smile in her voice. “Wouldn’t want you to hit rock bottom in one day. At least give it a week.”
I laughed through my tears, and within minutes, she sent me a text with confirmation numbers.
“You promise this isn’t goodbye?” I asked. “That you’re not writing me off, too?”
“I promise, Kate.” She sounded sincere. “You’re the only person in this family I actually love. Talk later.”
Tears fell down my face as I made it through security, as I realized that my life was forever changed. I had to start anew without my family’s last name, without James.
Hours later, I settled in my seat as the plane ascended toward the sky. Ignoring the tears streaming down my cheeks, I looked down at Lake Tahoe and vowed to never come back. I vowed to start my life over and to never, ever wait on another man again.
(So) Can we forgive each other?
James
“I REALIZED THAT MY life was forever changed. I had to start anew without my family’s last name, without you.”
I reread the section about her parents, about Grant putting his hands on her, and felt an unbearable ache in my chest. Waves of guilt washed over me, damn near drowning me for never giving her a chance to tell me her story while she was here.
She did wait for me.
I picked up my phone and called the company’s lead driver.
“Yes, Mr. Holmes?” he answered on the first ring.
“What time did you take Miss Kennedy to the airport today?”
“I didn’t. She refused my services, sir.” He paused. “I did make sure to upgrade her ticket to first class as you requested.”
“Has her flight landed in New York yet?”
“No, sir. She’ll arrive in Atlanta within the next three hours, and she’ll have a four-hour layover before her flight to New York.”
“Thank you.” I ended the call and immediately called my pilot.
Or Is This Really Over?
I WAS WILLING TO GIVE New York City a second chance, an encore by default. It was on the East Coast—far away from James, and one of my old coworkers had referred me to Spotify.
I didn’t even have to attend an interview. They hired me on the phone within fifteen minutes, and I was now looking up temporary rentals as I waited for my flight.
My heart felt even heavier now than it did years ago, but this time I was going to follow my logic instead of my emotions.
I clicked on a one bedroom apartment in Manhattan and gasped at the price. I clicked on three more, wondering if the site was mistakenly adding extra zeroes to all the list prices. As I pulled up my hotel options, I heard a familiar and deep voice right next to me, and the scent of his intoxicating cologne followed.
“Kate,” James said. “Kate, I know I’m the last person you want to talk to right now, but I need you to listen to me.”
I kept my gaze on my phone’s screen, adjusted the strap of the bag on my shoulder.
“Kate,” he repeated, stepping around to face me. “It’ll only take five minutes to say what I need to say.”
“I think you’ve said enough.” I noticed that his eyes were bloodshot red, that he looked as if he’d had as much trouble sleeping the night before as I did. Still, he didn’t deserve any more time from me, and the second the security guard emerged from the restroom, I was going to flag him over my way.
“I read your letter,” he said. “I’ve been reading it over and over all day.”
“I hope it was entertaining.” I moved past him and walked over to the windows. I hoped he would get the hint, but the moment I set down my bag, he was stepping in front of me again.
“James.” My voice cracked. “I don’t want to hear a single word that you have to say. I just want to take my last paycheck, what’s left of my dignity, and stay the hell away from you.”
“I didn’t know that they made you marry Grant for convenience.” He kept talking, his voice hoarse. “I just thought you chose him over me, that