The best man

Chapter 10

"Hey, do you want to go for a walk?" Conor asks, glancing down the street. The cool night air feels refreshing against my skin, and I nod in agreement.

As we stroll along the dimly lit path, a wave of nostalgia washes over me. "Remember the good old days?" I say, trying to lighten the mood.

"Of course," Conor replies, a grin spreading across his face. "I still can't believe how much you've changed. I remember the first time you got drunk. You were a total mess!"

I burst out laughing, the memory bubbling to the surface. "Yeah, I was! I don't think I could stand straight for half the night. And you? You were always the one blacking out and forgetting everything!"

"Hey, that's not fair!" Conor protests, laughing along with me. "I was just trying to have a good time!"

"Right, a good time until you ended up face-first on the floor!" I tease, nudging him playfully.

Conor chuckles, shaking his head. "Well, look at you now. You handle liquor like a pro! What happened to that girl who could barely finish a drink?"

"Guess I've learned a thing or two," I reply, a slight smirk on my lips. "But it wasn't easy. Just like you learned how to take care of yourself... sometimes."

He turns serious for a moment, his expression softening. "I really missed you, you know. The way we used to be, just hanging out and having fun. It feels like it's been forever."

I don't say anything, feeling a lump in my throat. It's hard to confront my feelings about our friendship.

"Lily," he continues, stopping to face me. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I've realized how much of a bad person I was, especially with Anne. I'm trying to make changes."

I take a deep breath, considering his words. "It's good that you're recognizing that, Conor. Acknowledging your mistakes is the first step."

He nods, looking down the path as if searching for the right words. "I just... I didn't want to hurt anyone, especially you. I've been so focused on myself that I didn't see how my actions affected you."

"I get that," I say softly. "It's easy to get caught up in our own lives, but it doesn't make it right. It's important to be aware of how we treat others."

"Yeah, I know now," he replies, his voice earnest. "I just hope that maybe one day, I can earn your trust back. I want to be better, not just for myself but for the people I care about."

"Trust takes time to rebuild," I remind him. "But if you're serious about changing, then that's a good start."

Conor meets my gaze, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Thank you for understanding, Lily. I really appreciate it."

We continue walking in silence for a moment, the weight of our conversation lingering in the air. It feels like a step forward, even if it's just a small one.