20 Days To Fall In Love

#16 - Harvard Bridge

Chapter 16 - Harvard Bridge
published: Friday, 8 May 2020

"Hi," Matthew said quietly as Freya turned around.

Her eyebrows shot skyward. "Matt?" she said in disbelief. Her eyes narrowed. "I thought you weren't talking to me."

Matthew shifted his weight from foot to foot uncomfortably. "I wasn't," he did truthfully. "But Elizabeth said that you deserve an explanation, and well, she's right."

"Is it because of her?" Freya said bitterly. "What, no ex-girlfriends around?"

Matthew shook his head. "No, actually, it's because of me." He sighed. "I'm a dick. Honestly, Freya, I've been terrible to you for years. And you stuck around despite all of it. No matter your intentions for doing so, you were still there, so thank you, for that."

"Calling Frederick and Ethan up because you were worried was the best thing you could've done," Matthew reassured her.

Freya crossed her arms. "Why are you telling me all these nice things?" she demanded. "How is this related to any of this?"

Matthew paused. "Because I'm trying to quit. The drinking and the drugs. And to me, you'll always be..." he trailed off. "A gateway to all that," he finished. Matthew groaned, "I'm sorry. It's bad. You're so much more than that. I mean, you deserve someone who actually treats you as more than that."

Freya was staring at her feet, not meeting his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Matthew said frustratedly. "It's really not personal - but I can't be around anyone who tempts into going back to all that. Not until I have enough restraint to hold back."

Freya pursed her lips. "It's okay," she relented. "Obviously, this isn't really what I would've liked to happen," she admitted. "But you're just doing the best thing for you."

Freya gave him a begrudging smile. "Three years is kind of hard to move on from, though." Her gaze flickered to where Elizabeth was standing, talking to Lola and another socialite. "Well, not for you."

Matthew hid a smile. "No, not really." He frowned. "It'll be weird though. I mean, in a weird way, you're probably considered one of my friends."

"That does sound weird," Freya agreed with a chuckle. "But, uh, yeah. I guess we can call it that." Her brown eyes held his gaze one last time as she brushed a strand of hair out of his face. "Goodbye, Matthew. I'll see you around."

Matthew watched as she walked away. Closure was painful, but it was also good. He knew he needed that. A final goodbye to whatever his old life was.

He approached Elizabeth and Lola warily, unsure of how she was faring.

"Matthew!" Lola said brightly when he arrived. "God, I know lots of people are must be crazy jealous of Elizabeth here, but I, for one, want to know how in the world you snagged her."

"Traitor," Matthew muttered accusatorially.

Elizabeth smiled. "He bothered me for a few days until I finally said 'yes'."

"Even then it was only because I won a bet," Matthew said indignantly. He turned to her, smirking. "I mean, it worked out, didn't it?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you got under my skin."

Lola glanced between them, amusement shining on her face. "You guys are cute together," she admitted. Her eyes swivelled to another guest - a man, looking around nervously. "There is a very confused man who looks like he needs my help." She winked at them conspiratorially before flouncing off to greet him.