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She purses her lips together and nods, “Only twice.” She shrugs. “He called me the night you left to ask if I had heard from you, to make sure you got home safely. Jonas texted me‘Sorry’with the cringe face emoji so I’m assuming Miles probably wasn't very pleasant when he was harassing my number out of him.”

“I should have just texted him and told him I made it,” I mumble.

“You told him you needed space, he should have expected it,” she says casually.

“And the other time?” I ask while fidgeting with the belt of my robe.

She's quiet for a minute like she's debating what she wants to tell me before she finally speaks. “Last night. He wanted to make sure you were still coming home today. He basically just kept saying he fucked up and then he asked me if I thought you would forgive him.”

“And what did you say?”

“Do you want the truth or a lie?”

I always want to know the truth obviously, but with Taylor and the things that come out of her mouth, a lie is probably a better option. “Mostly truth.”

She smiles. “The truth is I told him that I don't know but I hope that you do. I told him he went about some things the wrong way, but some people would argue accidentally getting married wasn't necessarily the right move either, but I wouldn’t be one of those people.”

I stop twirling the belt. “Why?”

She exhales a heavy breath through her nose. “Camila, you’ve come alive these past few months. And I’m not saying he's the only reason, leaving your job was all you. But I do think he had something to do with your newfound belief in yourself. You’ve always had people in your corner who love and support you, and you're capable of anything, but it feels like maybe you're starting to see that now too and I can’t ignore the fact that started shortly after you moved in with him.”

I’m flooded with emotions now and I don’t know which feelings to address first. I’m gutted that I wasted so much time. Proud of my personal growth. Unbelievably grateful for my best friend who has always been by my side. And there's another feeling of something I can’t place when I think of Miles.

“You miss him.” It’s not a question.

“Of course I miss him.”

“Can you forgive him?” she asks.

And the truth is, I don’t think I need to, I was hurt and upset, but I also understand. I know he wouldn’t do anything to purposefully hurt me. And nothing has changed in regards to how I feel about him, I still love him and I do believe everything between us was real.

“I keep thinking about a scenario where he meets me at that pier and has me sign those papers, gives me a handshake, and is on his way, and that’s the end of the story.” Taylor looks at me with eager eyes. “And if that was the end of the story, I would have never known this kind of love existed for me.”

There’s a knock on the door. “Room service,” a woman yells.

Taylor hops off the bed. “Don’t forget the orgasms, you wouldn’t have known about those either.” She points at me and I roll my eyes as she opens the door.

She turns around carrying a tray that's easily three feet wide and filled with boxes of food. “You are so insightful,” I deadpan.

She sets the tray down on the bed. “Insight this dick. Up top!” She throws her hand up for me to high-five her.

“That makes absolutely zero sense,” I say with a small laugh.

She just shrugs and I high-five her anyway before she falls beside me on the bed.

After we ateour weight in french fries, chicken strips, pizza, and Twizzlers, we watched all our favorite early 2000’s movies-—well, three before we both fell asleep. The clock by the bed flashes 3:42 a.m. but that doesn’t stop me from grabbing my phone as I head to the bathroom.

Me

Can you meet me at the pier later today?

I set my phone on the counter while I go to the bathroom, and plan to set an alarm so I can see when he texts me back in the morning but immediately my phone vibrates. I wash my hands and pick it up before heading back to bed.

Miles

Any time.

What is he doing awake? I hope I didn’t wake him. I can’t help but smile at the relief I already feel in my chest.