The List

Chapter Thirty Two

The next morning I wake up to footsteps in the kitchen. After my breakdown, I laid on the couch finally succumbing to sleep. My dad's words ring through my mind. Maybe staying here, and not returning to Lubbock is what's best for me. I don't know where I could go to escape the memories, but anywhere away from that school is better. Here I won't run in to her, I won't see the places we used to go, and I won't feel her with me every step I take.

I stand from the couch and notice my dad is staring at me from the kitchen. He has a piece of paper and his coffee in front of him.

"We need to talk." He says. "About your life."

I sigh and rub my face. "I've already decided I'm staying here. I'll transfer everything over from Tech, and I'll go to school here. This way I can see more of you and Tommy."

"And keep running when life gets hard?" He questions.

I roll my eyes. "Dad, just stop. I'm not running, I'm starting over."

"There's no difference, Rhett." He states. "I have a list of flight times, one that takes off in three hours, all are to Oklahoma."

My eyes widen, wondering how the hell he found out where she was from. Then, the shock turns to rage.

"I'm not going to Oklahoma." I yell. "I have you and Tommy here, I don't need her."

My dad's eyes soften, a look of sadness playing on his face. "You have a chance to save the girl you love. I never had that chance. Go to her and fight like hell to be with her."

"What about Tommy?" I question, feeling my heart ache for my dad. "He's so happy I'm back."

"But you're not back, Rhett." Tommy says, rounding the corner from the stairs. "This was my idea. You're not completely here; you're not happy. When we talked a month back, I could hear how happy you were."

"Tom." I sigh. "I love you for this, but there's no point. I said the worst possible things, I've done some shitty stuff, she'll never want me."

He picks up my phone from the couch and throws it at me. "I told you the other day the girl in that photo loves you. You'd be stupid not to fight for that."

The phone begins to vibrate in my hand, Liam's name flashing the screen for what seems like the millionth time. This time, I answer it.

"Yeah?"

"What the fuck, dude?" Liam shouts through the receiver. "I've called you at least as dozen times in the last three days. Why aren't you picking up?"

"How is she?" I question, ignoring his rage at me. I won't be able to think straight until I hear him at she's still here.

He sighs. "She's fine."

I sigh a breath of relief before he continues.

"She's pissed and hurt, but she's okay." He says. "You broke her heart by not coming to say goodbye. She can act like she doesn't give a shit, but I saw her face when you didn't walk through her dorm room."

"I know." I confess. "I didn't want to hurt her any more than I already have. There's no way I could've faced her."

"Just call her, please." He begs. "I'll make sure she answers. I just want y'all to talk and fix this. You need her and she needs you."