Chapter 7

“You really stayed in England for a month,” he said. “Mom says you’re planning to come home without seeing me.”

“Yes.”

“We were supposed to go to New Zealand.” He paused. “At the airport, I thought you were just running late.”

I looked toward the flowers in Grandma’s garden. If I had missed seeing him with Blair that day, I might have heard that as an admission that he had waited for me.

“You seemed to have a good trip,” I said.

“So you saw the photos?” His voice softened. “Blair went with everyone else. What I said that morning was harsh, and I can apologize when you get back.”

I waited, trying to decide what I wanted to say. Then his mother’s voice came through faintly.

“Let me talk to Leah for a minute.”

A moment later, Ryan handed her the phone.

“Leah, how’s your grandma? Is it getting cooler over there?”

“She’s doing well. We both are.”

“Ryan only told me a few days ago that you two had fallen out. I told him to explain himself, and he said he’d wait until you got home.” She sighed. “He can be careless with his words, sweetheart.”

I told her I was happy staying with Grandma. I wanted Ryan to speak for himself.

“Ryan’s finished his enrollment paperwork for Boston,” she said. “How are things on your end? Would you like me to help you check what’s left to do?”

My throat tightened. Mia had reminded me just yesterday to confirm my move-in date in Los Angeles.

“I’m taking care of it,” I said.

“When you get back, we’ll have a little celebration for you two. Your parents have been so busy. I can organize it.”

“That’s kind of you, but please don’t go to any trouble.” I looked down the path leading to the street. “I might come home later than I planned, closer to the start of school.”

She was quiet for a moment.

“Leah, did you and Ryan…”

Ryan took the phone before she finished.

“You won’t even tell me when you’re coming back to Boston?” Ryan asked.

I pushed open Grandma’s gate and stepped out onto the street.

“I haven’t set a date.”

“It’s been a month.” He spoke quietly. “You blocked me, left home, and cut me off. I know I spoke badly that morning. I apologized. What else do you want me to do?”

A bus rolled past while I considered his question.

There was a time when “I’m sorry” from Ryan would have been enough. I would have been grateful that he had come to me, even if he misunderstood why I was hurt.

He was apologizing for what he had said over breakfast. He had no idea I had stood outside that classroom.

“I’m not asking you to do anything,” I said.

“Then come home and talk to me in person.”

“I don’t have anything to add right now.”

Ryan fell silent.

We had known each other for ten years, and I had rarely turned down a chance to see him. Even after a fight, I opened the door whenever he came over.

“Leah,” he said at last, his voice lower, “what happened to us?”

I wanted to tell him how long I had stood outside the classroom, hoping he would say one kind thing about me. I had listened until I knew how he intended to leave that night behind.

“I have to go,” I said.

“Wait.” His tone hardened. “We still need to talk about Boston. We made plans to go together.”

I looked at the unfamiliar number on my screen. I had spent years holding on to that plan for both of us.

Ryan waited, then spoke again.

“If you keep putting off coming home, I’ll go to Boston on my own.”

Grandma called my name from the garden. She had returned from the shop carrying what she needed for dinner.

“She’s home,” I said. “I’m going in.”

Ryan’s voice turned cold when I gave him the answer.

“Think carefully, Leah. You might regret this.”