Chapter 17
Dylan got sick. High fever, ended up in the hospital.]
I found out from my manager.]]
“The motel guy said that boy was burning up, totally out of it.“]
“Kept mumbling some name over and over.“[]
“Avery, was he saying your name?“[]
I stayed quiet.
“Maybe you should go see him?” she suggested carefully. “I mean, you guys went to school together.“[]
“No.” I kept wiping down coffee cups. But my hands were shaking a little.]
My manager sighed. “You kids and your drama.“[]
“Don’t wait until it’s too late to fix things.”
Too late? I wasn’t the one who should have regrets.]
But that night I couldn’t sleep. I kept seeing Dylan running into that rain, just like I had.[]
Except he brought it on himself. I didn’t have a choice.]]
The next day, Dylan’s mom walked in.[]
She looked like hell. The moment she saw me, she started crying.[]
“Avery, honey, I finally found you.“[]
She reached out to hug me. I backed away.[]
“Mrs. Carter.” Polite but cold.]
Her arms dropped, face/crumbling.]
“Avery, where the hell have you been? I’ve been going crazy looking for you.‘
“Dylan too. Kid’s been acting like a lunatic,”
“He’s falling apart over this.“[]
I didn’t say anything.
She wiped her tears and kept going. “I know Dylan screwed up. He hurt you bad.“[]
Chapter 17
“But honey, for my sake, can you forgive him just this once?“]
“He really gets it now.“]
I shook my head. “Mrs. Carter, some things are just over.“[]
“But you two grew up together!” She got all worked up. “How can you throw away all those years?!“]]
“He threw them away first.” I reminded her.[]
“When he called me a parasite. When he watched everyone destroy me and did nothing. When he ditched me with a fever to go be with Madison.“[]
“We were done right then.“[]
Mrs. Carter cried harder. “I know, honey. I know all about it.“]
J
“Dylan was so wrong.“]
“But Avery, he knows how much you mean to him now.“]
“He can’t live without you!“[]
“That’s his problem.” My heart felt like stone. “Just like back then, when he decided Madison was more important.“[]
“Everyone makes their own choices.“[]
“And everyone deals with the consequences.“[]
Mrs. Carter stared at me with this complicated look. Hurt, helpless, but also like she finally understood something.[]
“Avery, you’ve changed.”
“Yeah.” I didn’t try to deny it. “I changed. I don’t need anyone anymore.“]]
“Including him.”
After Mrs. Carter left, I thought things would finally go back to normal.]
But I was wrong.
After Dylan got out of the hospital, he did something nobody expected.]
