20
Idon’t know how long I stand in the empty hotel room, but I’m certain it’s well past checkout. By the time I leave, the sun is setting, the air is colder, and there is fresh snow on the sidewalk.
I pull out my phone and scroll through my missed calls and messages, then I pull up Talia’s number and call her back.
“Riggs?” Talia answers right away, her voice tight and full of worry.
“Hey, Tal. Are you still at the condo?”
“I am.”
“Okay, I’ll be there soon.”
She’s waiting for me in the foyer when I walk through the door, and she immediately wraps me in a hug. I lean into the familiar comfort of her arms, breathing in the minty scent of her shampoo. The same shampoo she’s used since high school.
“I’m so sorry, Riggs,” she says after she pulls away. “I tried to call, but you weren’t answering. I didn’t know this would happen.”
“I know, Talia. It’s not your fault. I should have called you back or texted or something.” I scrub my hand down my face. “I just wanted one more day, you know?”
“Bailey. Is she...?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Yeah, that’s her.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah.”
“What are you going to do?” Talia asks, and her eyes search my face.
“I don’t know. I fucked it up.” God, did I ever fuck it up.
“Are you in love with her?”
My heart jumps and my brow furrows, and then all I can do is stare at Talia.
“What?” Her question has stunned me. Why would she ask that?
“Bailey. Are you in love with her, Riggs?”
I know the answer immediately, but I’m so caught off guard that I can’t say it. Instead, I run through every memory, searching for how I could have missed it. Fuck.
“You are,” Talia says for me, and I nod.
“I think I am, yeah.”
“I think we need to tell Odette, Riggs.” I look at Talia and hold eye contact, my breath stalled in my chest. This is exactly what I was coming to tell Talia, and I was prepared to break her heart if I had to, but if she’s saying it too....
“Your mom loves you. She’ll love anyone you love. You know she will. I don’t think it has to be me. I’ve been thinking about this a lot...” Talia sighs. “This whole time we’ve been worried about hurting her because she wanted us together, because she was so happy when we were engaged, and we didn’t want to take that away from her when everything else started getting bad. But, Riggs, I think she was just happy that we were happy.”
“Where’s this coming from?” I shake my head, and she can see confusion on my face.
“I’m not in love with you, Riggs,” Talia says with a sad smile, “but no one wants to be trapped in an affectionless relationship.” She shrugs, tears welling in her eyes. “So, I tried. I thought you were my future, so I tried to make it one I was happy with. It’s not like I could just date around. If word got back to your dad that you were messing around, he wouldn’t care. He wouldn’t tell Odette or my parents. But if it were me?”
She lets out a sigh, leaving the implication hanging. She’s right, and I’m angry for her. Bailey’s the only other person I’ve been with, but I didn’t even think twice about pursuing her when I saw her. I wasn’t at all worried about the consequences. But Talia wouldn’t have had that privilege, and the double standard—and the way I benefitted from it—makes me sick.
“I’m so sorry, Tal,” I say, and grab her hand. “I had no idea. I had no idea how much this was hurting you.” She squeezes my hand, then wipes her eyes.
“I think we had good intentions, but it’s gone on for too long,” she says. “I think maybe our methods were misguided. I don’t want to lie anymore. It’s not just hurting me, Riggs, it’s hurting you, too. And I think... I think Odette would want to get to know your real future, not just the one you think she wants for you.”
My real future. Meaning Bailey. Bailey is my real future. The one I choose.
God, I’m such a fucking idiot.
“You’re right.”
“When?”
“Now.” I’ve wasted too much time already.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, but I’ll let you know when I’m finished, in case you want to come talk to her.”
“I’d like that. Thank you.” Talia gives me another hug and then kisses me on the cheek.
“You’re a good person, Riggs.”