Us At First (Carolina Rebels 2.50)

“I just landed in Raleigh and picked up a rental car. I was hoping I could see you and talk to you.”

“Seriously?” I wince at the fury she packs into that one word. “It’s been two years, Ian, and you want me to drop everything and see you today?”

“Please? It doesn’t have to be today. It can be tomorrow or the next day. I can wait a week if you want. I really want to talk to you.”

She huffs and is quiet as she thinks. “Fine. Let me know when you get here and I’ll meet you at the hotel. You’ll have thirty minutes to say whatever you want. After that, I don’t care what you do.” She hangs up without another word.

Shit. I was hoping time would soften her anger, but it definitely hasn’t done that.

The drive is a long one—seemingly longer than the ones I used to take to come see her. I almost told Dad that I was coming to see Sydney, but any time I’ve mentioned her over the years, he tells me I’m better off without her. I don’t know what the fuck that even means. How am I better off without her? It makes no sense, so I didn’t mention how I was making a pit stop in North Carolina before spending some time back home since it’s the off-season for me.

I don’t wait long at the hotel after I text Sydney. She looks so different, but still gorgeous. She looks older, more grown up, and her hair is shorter than the last time I saw her.

“What do you want, Ian?” She stands by the door with her arms crossed over her chest, not wanting to come in any further.

“I’m sorry.”

“If you came all this way to apologize, then you’re—”

“Will you let me talk?” I interrupt. She glares at me, but stays silent. “I miss you.” She scoffs, and I ignore it. “I wanted to tell you that I lied when I said I didn’t love you.” Her eyes widen and she gulps. “It’s because of stupid shit that happened with my parents, because I was stupid, and because I wasn’t ready for what that meant. The whole thing with Stacy made things worse, and I felt like a piece of shit for a long time about that. I didn’t mean to go this long without talking to you, but it just happened that way. So, I’m here to say I’m sorry. If it’s at all possible, I’d love for us to be friends again.”

Sydney stares at me until it’s about to become uncomfortable. “That’s it? That’s all you want to apologize for?”

I frown in confusion. “Yeah. That’s all there is to apologize for. I haven’t seen or talked to you since your graduation. What else could I have done?”

She sways. Without thinking, I reach out to grab her hips and steady her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sorry. I haven’t eaten today.” She takes a step back, so my hands have to fall. “We can be friends, but that’s it.”

My chest feels so much lighter at hearing that. ?

?Can we go out to eat?”

Sydney shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry. I have to get back. How long are you staying?”

“Depends. Will you eventually have dinner with me?”

“Of course.”

No hesitation whatsoever. That gives me hope. I can’t lose the only girl I’ve ever wanted, even if we never move past being friends.

“Then, I’ll be here. Text me when you’re ready.”

She nods and leaves. It almost seemed too easy, to be honest, but I don’t care. She’s giving me a chance. That’s all I need.

“He doesn’t know!” I shout when I walk into my mother’s living room. “He doesn’t know!” The tears start falling as I go over to take my startled daughter, Savannah, from Mom’s arms.

“What are you talking about, Sydney?”

I sit on the couch and rock, feeling comforted by having my fifteen-month-old baby in my arms. “Ian doesn’t know about Savannah. He came to apologize for what happened when he came down here last. I asked if that was all and his words exactly were, ‘That’s all there is to apologize for. I haven’t seen or talked to you since your graduation. What else could I have done?’ He doesn’t know! Mr. Rhett must not have told him.”

“You don’t think he’s playing dumb to get back into your life?”

“That doesn’t make sense because it’s not just me anymore.”

“So, you told him?” she asks.