Second Chance

Second Chance Part 19

"Hey, sorry that took longer than expected." Ari says. She slides into my passenger side with a bag of food. "It's totally fine. I'm really sorry about all of this I feel really stupid." I say embarrassed. "No big deal, we are going back to your house if that's okay?" She asks. I nod my head. I'm glad my friends are so understanding about Brady. They were all totally there for me last year when we broke up. "Are you going to tell us what happened?" Ari asks picking at her nails nervously. "Yeah, I'll just wait until we get to the house though, just so I don't have to tell it twice." She nods her head slowly. I'm sure while they were waiting on the food they started speculating. 

My mom opens the front door when she sees me pull in. Jade and Noel pull in right behind me. "Hey girls, I didn't know you guys were coming over. I didn't cook anything." My mom says holding the door open for us. "No worries, we actually got take out from the new diner across town." Ari says. "I'm sorry I didn't bring you anything, I wasn't sure if you were still going to be at the office or not." I say giving my mom a hug. "It's totally fine, I've got some left over pizza from the other night." I take the girls up to the den so we can have some privacy. I don't think my mom would intentionally listen in, but sound travels in this house. "Dude I know you said you and your mom redid the den, but I didn't expect it to look this good!" Noel says plopping down on the couch. "Thanks, it was her design, but its just way more my style now." We start getting our food out, I'm trying to ignore the elephant in the room. I know I won't be able to for long. "So, what did happen at the diner?" Jade asks. She immediately shoves a fry in her mouth to distract her. "When I came out of the bathroom Brady was waiting on me. He pulled me outside to talk. He apologized for everything he put me through, and he said he broke up with Brielle after Luke's party. He wants us to be friends or something." I answer. Saying it out loud, it doesn't sound like such a big deal, but in the moment it had me reeling. I feel foolish now. "That's so weird. You guys have been broke up for literal months and he just now has something to say to you? He's a selfish ass and I hope you put him in his place." Ari says. Ari will shit talk anyone to make you feel better. It's one of my favorite things about her. "I don't know if I would say I put him in his place, but I told him I wasn't ready to accept his apology and I definitely don't see how we could ever be friends after everything we've been through. He literally told me he confronted Max at Luke's party just to upset me. Like how fucked up is that? He is the one who cheated on me. He broke my heart not the other way around." I say getting angry all over again. "Exactly, he has some serious issues. Like beyond just being a dick." Noel says. I never really thought of him as having issues until today. He said he was going through some stuff. What stuff? Was it like what I went through? I'm not trying to make excuses for him, but I can also understand what it's like. I clung closer to my friends, but some people distance themselves and try to surround themselves with people who don't know them well enough to notice a change. "Did he say anything?" I ask. I hate myself for caring. But if I don't ask I'll just think about it all night. The girls exchange glances. "What?" I ask. I feel a familiar twinge in my stomach. "Well, he just asked where you went, and we told him you weren't feeling well so we are just going to leave. He um, he said he really wants to talk to you one day and air everything out. He said he still loves you. The whole conversation was strange. It's by far the most he has ever talked to us." Ari says. I feel like all of the air in my body has left. I place my hand on my chest. "What." I say exasperated. Ari grabs my hand. "This doesn't have to change anything Ken. You are in such a good place right now. You have Max, you have us, and your future ahead of you. You don't need some loser like Brady." Noel says. I know she is right. Everything she is saying makes perfect sense. I can't help how it makes me feel. I just feel guilty. Was Brady going through something and I just didn't realize? Did I abandon him when he needed someone? Snap out of it Ken he abandoned you. You were fucked up emotionally. Granted it wasn't all Brady's fault, but did he help? No. He continued to push you out of your comfort zone even after telling him how those situations made you feel. He got black out drunk at every party. What if that was a cry for help? Maybe he was using booze to numb the pain? Stop Ken. Stop making excuses. "Ken?" Jade says looking at me. I realize I've just been staring off. "No, it doesn't change anything. He hurt me, I've moved on, and I don't have anything to say to him." I say. I force a smile. I wish I could believe the words I'm saying. I don't know why, but this does change something.