By Chance

Chapter Twenty Six : By Chance

Summer's POV

As I step out the shower, I'm reminded again of this different place I have to get used to. Using a new shower is always such a strange feeling for some reason, and it makes me miss the comfort of my very own bathroom in Brady's house.

He never uses the upstairs bathroom, and I rarely use his downstairs one. It was an unsaid rule that we both follow. Or followed, since I don't live there anymore and it's been over a week since I last saw or spoke to Brady.

Just as I'm about to go on a spiel in my head about how mad I am at him, Elle slams her fist on the bathroom door. The sound makes me jump so hard that I nearly slip.

"What?" I quickly ask.

She aggressively opens the door, sticking my phone out so close to my face that I can't read it. I take a step back to see that it's ringing. And the caller is...

Brady?

"It just started buzzing on the couch."

My stomach starts gaining more and more butterflies as my heart picks up. "Should I answer it?"

"You've been waiting for him to call for forever. Answer it and give the stupid jackass a piece of your mind. It's the least he deserves."

Right when I reach out to grab it, the call disappears. I took too long.

Maybe that was a sign that I should make him work for it a little more. I'll make him wait as long as I had to wait for him. Two can play at this game. I am strong enough to-

The phone rings again, and this time I answer it on the first ring. Elle's right. I need to let him know just how bad his words hurt me. I can't do that if I don't answer him.

"Put it on speaker," Elle mouths at me, and I listen.

"Hello?" I ask over the phone. Words can't even explain how nervous I am right now. I'm shaking so hard, and I'm not even sure why. It's just Brady.

"You got this," Elle mouths again.

"Hey," Brady says nonchalantly.

Excuse me?

"What do you want Brady?" I ask unpleased.

"I-uh-I'm ready to talk. For real this time," he responds. I can tell he's not exactly sure what he say.

Elle flexes her arms, telling me to be strong. She then slowly shakes her head, telling me to say no. That he has to try harder. That I need to speak my mind before I give him a chance.

"I would, but I am feeling kind of annoying right now. Maybe another time?"

"Summer..." I can hear how sorry he is by the way he says my name. I have to hold back. He needs to learn.

"Bye, Brady," I hang up the phone.

That hurt. I wanted to tell him I'd come to where he was and listen to what he has to say. I wanted to hear him out. But Gracie and Elle are right. If I show him that this was no big deal, that's exactly as he'll see it. It was a big deal.

"Are you okay?" Elle asks.

I continue to stare at something on the floor and grab on tighter to the towel around me. "Yeah," I answer.

"I'll leave this here if he calls again. If I were you, I would accept next time he asks, but make it sounds like you don't really want to," she offers her advice.

I finally stop zoning off and snap my eyes to her. "Okay, I will. Thank you so much for your help."

She smiles sympathetically before leaving me alone in the bathroom. I grab my phone off of the counter where Elle set it and hold it close to me, silently praying that it rings again. The Brady I know wouldn't stop. He would call again, demanding that I at least talk to him.