Chapter 5

That evening, Ryan texted.

Still mad?

I left the message unanswered. Another arrived a little later.

Talk to me when you’re ready.

He expected me to come around. During every argument we had ever had, I had eventually gone to his door. Sometimes I asked to borrow a book. Sometimes I suggested a walk. Once he opened it, we slipped back into our old routine.

This time, I blocked his number. Then I changed the code to our front door.

My hands shook as I entered the new one. When the lock clicked into place, I leaned against the wall and let out a breath.

I kept my social media accounts but muted Ryan and Blair. Mia was right. Checking on him every day would make leaving harder.

After that, I called my parents and said I wanted to visit Grandma in England for a while.

“Now?” Mom sounded surprised. “I thought you and Ryan wanted to go skiing in New Zealand.”

I had talked about that trip while we were studying for exams. Ryan had said we could go after graduation and teased me about falling over the moment I stepped onto skis.

“I want to spend some time with Grandma first,” I said.

“Did you two have a fight?”

I glanced at the boxes beside the door. “I miss her.”

Dad heard the strain in my voice and let the subject go. He booked me a flight for the next day and asked me to call when I landed.

As I left with my suitcase, I ran into Ryan’s mother outside our houses. She came over smiling.

“Leah, are you two leaving already? Ryan said he was taking you skiing. I was going to remind him to pack a warm coat for you.”

I tightened my grip on the suitcase handle.

“I’m going to England to see my grandma.”

Her smile faltered. “Ryan didn’t mention it.”

“I decided at the last minute.”

She studied me for a moment, then said I should come over for dinner when I got back.

I nodded and hugged her. She had always been kind to me. I wanted Ryan to tell her what had happened himself.

I saw Ryan at the airport.

He was heading toward international departures with a group of friends. Blair walked among them in a pale jacket, chatting with someone beside her. Ryan carried her bag. When the crowd thickened, he reached out to guide her through it.

I stopped behind a pillar. The New Zealand trip was going ahead, with Blair beside him.

My gate was on the other side of the terminal, though I had to use the same long corridor. I waited for the group to get farther ahead before following.

Ryan stopped and took out his phone. He made a call, looked at the screen, and tried typing a message. When Blair called back to him, he told her to go on. Then he borrowed a friend’s phone and walked toward the restrooms.

My phone rang a moment later. The number was unfamiliar.

I let it ring until the call was nearly over, then answered.

“Leah, did you block me?”

Someone pushed a luggage cart past me. I stepped aside and stayed quiet.

“I gave you space for two days, and you were planning to keep ignoring me?” Ryan lowered his voice. “You’re really holding a grudge this time.”

At the far end of the corridor, Blair stood with the others, looking at a boarding pass.

“Did you need something?” I asked.

“Unblock me. We can talk about whatever’s bothering you when you get back.”

“I think we’ve said enough.”

“Enough?” His voice sharpened. “I went to your house yesterday. Your mom told me you were flying to England today. Were you even going to tell me you weren’t coming skiing?”

I looked at Blair. “You have people going with you.”

Silence held for a moment.

“You saw me?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you?”

“My flight’s boarding.”

“Leah, stop doing this. Blair’s here with the rest of the group. If you have a problem with it, talk to me.”

He still thought Blair was the whole reason I was upset.