- I know that, Ryder. Only you never tried to get rid of all this drama. That pain. He'd rather be rowing than having to deal with the problem. - shoot her. - You even seem to like being angry with them, like it keeps something alive inside you. Only bitterness isn't good for anyone.
- And what do you know about bitterness, Brooke? He grew up in a dome. - he asks with disdain. - You don't know anything. The only fight he really had to face was to get rid of futile and absent parents.
I take a break, laughing with disdain and staring at her with coldness.
- At least I had my mother to share what I felt and to support me whenever I needed to.
Okay, okay, okay, okay. That was cruel, and I don't even know where I got those words from. I was attacking Brooke like I was attacking my real target at that moment and I felt like shit for saying those things. I realized it was late when Brooke's hand hit my face very hard.
- You're a miserable, little soul-spirited bastard who lives by playing the poor guy. - she says in a trembling voice. - If you want to keep your pains in the air, that's fine with me! I won't be here when you decide to get rid of it.
With tears in her eyes, she takes the bag and hangs on her shoulder. There was no time to go after Brooke, because she runs out the door and gets into the first taxi that passes by. I sigh my hands through my face. Brooke was right about everything he said about my past with Leila. I had to ask her for forgiveness for my behavior as soon as possible, but it would give Brooke time to calm down or he would certainly catch me. In the meantime, I decide to call Leila and set up a meeting to resolve that drama and put an end to it. It was hard to find Leila's phone number in the phone book, but I can talk to her and ask her to meet me at a café in about half an hour.
I ask for the bill and make a request for the food to be delivered to the campus apartment, where I knew, Brooke, that I would be with Jane. Stand up, pay the bill, and I'm out of the restaurant. The graduation party will be the next night, so I call the marina to get my boat ready. The same one who sailed with Brooke a few weeks earlier. I needed to redeem myself and believe a moonlit walk would be romantic. I decided to set sail right after graduation.
The next day passes slowly. I had left several messages on Brooke's cell phone, but she hadn't answered me. I prayed she'd forgive me and come with me to the dance. Wearing my tuxedo, I take the bracelet I bought for her and go down to the garage. I decide to drive instead of a motorcycle. I knew she'd be dressed in a nice dress and heels. I didn't want Brooke to feel uncomfortable. I get to the door of the apartment she shared with Jane, and I touch the company. Jane answers the laughter, but as soon as she sees me, her laughter disappears.
- What do you want? - she asks.
- I don't need to hear your sermon about what you said to Brooke, but I need to apologize to her.
- Sermon? What the hell are you talking about? - she asks in a confusing tone.
- Brooke didn't tell you we had a fight?
- No." says Jane shrugging. - I haven't seen Brooke in a week since she decided to stay in her apartment.
- Why were you rude to me, then?
- Because you sent that wonderful buffet, but you forgot the marinara sauce.
I close my eyes snorting.
- And you ate, even though you knew it was for Brooke? - I ask between my teeth.
- Sure! She wasn't here and I was starving to death. - says she shrugging again. - In fact, weren't you going on a trip?
I frown in a confusing way.
- Travel? Travel to where?
- I don't know, but yesterday, Brooke called to let me know that they would travel and not come back for a long time. - she takes a break, then she shoots me with her eyes. - You said you had a fight. What did you do this time?
Sighing in disbelief, leaning back on the side wall, I remember the last words Brooke said.
- She's gone as promised. - I whisper in despair. - Brooke left me!
Chapter 17
Brooke
I take a deep breath looking down from the balcony balcony of one of the hotels near Harvard. I took advantage of the fight with Ryder to put my mind in order. I didn't know if I could forgive him after the cruel words he had said. Everything he had said had hurt a lot and I needed some time to assimilate things. Looking at the movement of people walking from side to side in one of the busiest streets in Boston. He was very far from home and aware of the concern he was possibly causing at that time. The sky was dark, with heavy clouds, which threatened to collapse at any moment, a dense and lasting rain. I had been in that hotel for two days, and I just went out to visit the college complex
