Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 52: Harper

Wednesday, 8:36 P.M. PST

All the traveling has me tired, but I made an extra effort to keep up my daily check-ins with Ty because of what happened with Sophie.

I can’t help from still being mad at him, but after a certain point I just had to realize... it was a mistake. 

We all make them!

If I could help him get back on the wagon and sober again? Hayden might find it in herself to see that too, and he’d still be good for her…

“She’s told me she had problems… but not to that extent.” Ty comments after letting my summary of the meeting today sink in.

I nod my head, agreeing with him. I hate that I have to, but add on. “Do you see why some things she does happens now? She’s had no treatment for any of that.” 

Ty nods too, a look of hurt crossing his face as it has many times since I’ve been coming to check on him.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her, Harper,” he says after a moment.

I tell him I know, finding it in my heart to believe him though I don’t understand how he could do that to her unless everything he’s said was a lie.

Hayden can be a lot to handle. I can’t expect everyone to do it perfect. 

“I’m sure, but you’ve got to help her from here on out, okay?” I ask, trying to change the dull tone that settles over the room. “No more benders, alright? You stayed sober today?” 

He confirms his sobriety, taking a break from his depressing demeanor to show off. I can tell he’s proud of himself, but it lasts only moments before he grows worried again. 

“I don’t think she wants to be with me though, Harper,” he says. “Being sober and not fucking up now doesn’t change what I did...”

I don’t know how to respond considering that I have about as much knowledge on Hayden’s stance in all of this as he does. 

I don’t want to tell him she wants to be with him, and get his hopes up in case she really can't find it in herself to forgive him.

But I also don’t want to have him believe that she won't, and stop trying.

Ty loves her. I don’t understand why he did what he did, but I trust that he loves her. 

If he doesn’t expect there to be a chance, who's to say he won’t just pick up the bottle again, and end up with someone else?

“Hey now!” I blurt, pointing my finger at him threateningly as I muster up my best mothering tone. “We’re not talking like that, okay! Nothing is certain… she knows she hurt you, and obviously knows that people do dumb shit when they’re hurt!”

Ty nods, his face clearly showing his want to trust me. He's really beating himself up though.

“So we shouldn’t have any problems, right?” I both assure and confirm, pressing for his answer with my eyes.

“Right,” he says, matching my tone with his voice, but not his face.