Page 84 of Places We've Never Been

CHAPTER 20

Before I faced Skyler, I needed to walk, work off some of the nervous energy now coursing through me, make sure my newly discovered feelings weren’t written all over my face. Because despite what I’d discovered about Dylan, I hadn’t forgotten what Paisley had implied at the beginning of our trip. That Skyler was horrified at the thought of me likinghim.

I stepped down into the cold air and headed aimlessly into the night, twisting and twisting the bracelet on my wrist. Skyler had been my best friend. He had to forgive me for hurtinghim.

I had hurt him.

That thought made my insides clench and my stomach ache.

I wasn’t sure how long I walked or where I walked or even what I thought about. But as our RV came into view again down the path, I realized I was shivering from the cold.

“There you are.” Skyler was walking toward me. He’d pulled a sweatshirt on, which meant he’d been back to the RV.

“Hi,” I whispered through my chattering teeth.

“I’m sorry I was a jerk.” He was using his phone as a flashlight and it created a perfect circle of light around our shoes when he stopped in front of me.

“No,” I said.

“Have you been out here this whole time?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I didn’t know it was so hard for you when I left.”

“It was Dylan, wasn’t it?”

“What?”

I rubbed my arms and looked over at the lantern of a neighboring campsite. Insects zipped in and out of its glow. “He was one of those guys in middle school who picked on you all the time.”

“You’re freezing, Norah. Let’s go inside.”

“I can’t right now. You need to tell me. Was Dylan one of those guys?”

He nodded. “Yes, now come on.”

“No, wait. I need to say I’m sorry.”

“You said it.” He pulled off his sweatshirt and handed it tome.

“No, I haven’t yet.”

He smiled. “Okay, say it, then.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know him back then, so I didn’t remember.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. I should’ve been more observant at the time and I definitely should’ve at least remembered. Even if I didn’tremember, I should’ve seen the kind of person he was. Love is blind, I guess.”

“Youlovedhim?”

“No, I didn’t. Not at all. But I was caught up in liking him enough to overlook his flaws.”

He studied my face. “I understand.”

“No, you can’t understand yet. There’s more.”