What Is Left Unsaid : An Ashley Purdy Love Story

Talk To Me

TIANA'S POV : 

     Well , that was fun . Like open heart surgery .

     Poor Brian doesn't know what to do with himself right now . Apparently , he was hoping that , since those movies aren't usually my thing , that I'd remain blissfully ignorant . He probably would've been right if Kel and I hadn't been invited to a co - workers bachelorette party , where that just happened to be the "highlight reel" , as it were .

     Now that I've had time to think about it , I'm not sure why I was so surprised . I mean , really , his only goal in life back then was to be a famous rock star , and 99% of the time , those are the kind of girls they date . So I should have figured out that he would try to go for the whole "rock star lifestyle" package , which would obviously not include one's small - town , high school girlfriend .

     Kelli and I are back at CC's place now , and Kelli is taking a shower before bed . Tiff is checking on her social media , so I'm alone with CC in the kitchen . He opens the freezer , grabs a tub of ice cream , and says , "Rocky Road , T ! Want some ?" 

     "Sure , what the hell !" , I reply . "Maybe it'll help put me to sleep or something ."

     "I'm pretty sure the girls are still wondering what the fuck happened awhile ago , but I know that we've all figured out what happened . What I'm wondering is how , if you don't mind my asking ?"

     "Bachelorette party , what else ", I sigh .

     " What did you mean by a ' lightbulb moment' ,anyway , Tiana ?" , he inquires .

     "Dude , at that time , I'd spent over seven years trying to figure out why the hell he disappeared without a fucking word , after he swore to me that we were going to do everything together . That pretty much cleared everything up right there . Why the hell would he want me getting in the way when he could be with girls like that ?"

     CC winces when he hears this , and says , "Tiana , I honestly don't think that was it at all . The other night , when he explained the situation to us , he said that was one of the hardest things he'd ever done . I'm not sure what was actually going on in his head , but I doubt it was how to replace you with one of those girls . And if it was , he was awfully fucking slow about it ! That didn't happen 'til after he finished school , so that was , what , four , five years after he came out here ?"

     Just then , we hear footsteps heading our direction , so he goes back to scooping the ice cream . Tiff comes in and gives him a squeeze , then grabs another bowl and places it on the table in front of him .

     "Two scoops , please , sweetie !" , she says .

     I hear Kelli in the hall , and yell , "Hey , Kel ! We're having ice cream , ya want some ?" 

     "Sure , but you can't tell my kids ." , she says as she enters the room . "Then I'd never be able to tell them they can't have ice cream before bed ." 

     "How old are your kids ?" , Tiff asks her .

     "Jayna just turned six , and Trent is four and a half ." , she replies , and pulls up a picture on her phone .

     "Cute kids , your girl is basically your mini - me ." , CC observes . "I'm guessing the little guy looks like his dad ." 

    "As long as he doesn't act like him , we're OK . I have to be honest , I've seen some stories about your band on the internet , and even if any of them are true , some of the crap my ex pulled makes y'all look like choirboys ." , she says . 

     As she is explaining her situation to CC and Tiff , my phone rings . I check the caller ID , and shockingly , it's Ash .

     "Hello ."