A Broken Forever(123)

"I have no idea. I've never seen him react that way before, and he just … left."

Jayden rubbed my shoulder. "It can't be easier for him, Grey. He's learning so much so late in the game. And it probably feels like everyone else in his life knew it, but him. Just give it time, and maybe space. Pack a bag and come stay with Cara and I for a few days."

"You know, I think I'll do that. Richard needs room to breathe and well, so do I."

"Exactly. Now, go inside and call me the second you need me, Grey."

"I will, thank you, Jay." He leaned across the center console and gave me one parting squeeze.

Exiting the car I took in a deep breath and gained the willpower to go inside.





Richard wasn't inside. He didn't answer his phone when I called and after a few hours passed, I still heard nothing from him. Eventually I decided Jayden had been right, we needed space and I needed that time to figure out what I wanted anyway. In our bedroom closet I pulled down a small suitcase and began filling it with clothes and other things I may need. This was the second time in my life I had to select just a few things to stow away until my heart decided what I had to do. The last time I hated the way I ended things but I had no choice. There was no telling what would have happened if I would have stayed.

Thinking about it, there was no real difference between then and now. As I walked away I knew I needed Stefan but I had to let him go, and this time I only wanted to get him back. My entire world revolved around him and it was high time I owned up to all my heart desired.

Once I had everything stowed away I pulled out my phone and opened a new text to Stefan.

Me: Richard knows everything now. Apparently we were on the news at the game. I don't know what's going to happen now, but it doesn't change the way I feel. I love you, Stef. I'm going to my brother's house. I need to resolve these things here before I can come back to you. But I will be back. I promise.

Just as I lugged my suitcase to the foyer, a knock came from the apartment door. I looked down at my phone to see if I had missed any calls or texts, but nothing was there. For some reason I felt the need to back away from the door and hide until whoever was on the other side went away. Instead I remained motionless. Unable to back away, unwilling to open it either. The knock came again but this time it was far louder. Apparently there was no avoiding what was on the other side. With a reluctant sigh I crossed the room and pulled open the door.

My mother stood there with her lips pursed, her eyes narrowed, and determination glowing from every inch of her figure.

"Hey mom." I smiled, hoping her appearance was a random act and not because she knew, well, anything.



       
         
       
        

"We need to talk."

The four most terrifying words anyone could hear. But they took on a whole new level of terror when said from my mother's mouth.

I extended my arm for her. "Come on in."

The second the door had closed she dove right in. "How could you, Greyson?"

"What??" I expected something along these lines but to start this harsh threw me off.

"Richard has just been to see me. I knew you kept secrets from him about your past. However, I am just discovering today that your past didn't exactly stay where it belonged."

"Richard was at your house?!" Here I had been worried about him. Turns out he had run off to my mother's to tattle tale like we were little kids.

"Yes, he did. He was very upset at you and quite frankly, at all of us. Not a single person had his back in letting him in on those pieces of your past. It crushed him, Greyson. What I couldn't believe though was the latest news. You never told me Stefan was back in your life. Not to mention, that you were seeing him regularly! Why in all that is holy did you return to him?"

"It's complicated."

"No, I don't think it is! You have officially cheated on your fiancé, Greyson. With a man that had his chance! I get it, okay? You loved him. You cherished him. You wanted a future with him, but you know what? That time has long since passed."

I refused to hear this. Who was she to say? Sure, she knew what happened back in the day, but not a single person carried the weight around that I did. Every single day I had to wake up and realize that Allie and Stefan were gone. While everyone carried on with their lives, I struggled to keep mine. There were people that loved me, and those that offered me a shoulder if I needed one. What none of them realized though was that what I needed, no one else could give me.

"Who says it has? You're right, what I did was wrong. But denying everything that I wanted was even worse! For the past six years I've had to learn to move on. What if that was the wrong move? Leaving Stefan felt like the right thing to do but maybe I should have stayed and fought for him!"