Summer Girl

Summer Girl - Chapter 32

Chapter THIRTY TWO

"Hello?"

   I heard his voice from the front entrance way. Max and I were in the kitchen, me on a stool by the island, him sitting on the island itself. I knew it was Harley.

   Max and I had spent the last half an hour talking, laughing. I kissed his stubbly cheek, then told him I liked him with facial hair. He grinned at me.

   "You are so into me, huh?" he asked, his voice low. I knew he was teasing me.

   "I'm... you know I'm..." I shook my head. "You mean a lot to me."

   "I'll drive to see you whenever I can. Wherever you are," he promised.

   "Really?" I asked. He nodded. "I wish I had a plan. But knowing you'll be a part of it... that's good enough for now."

   He smiled his half smile, as we heard the voice from down the hallway.

  "In the kitchen!" Max called out to Harley.

   I held my breath until I saw him, then blinked hard and ran towards him before he even entered the room fully. He smelled the same, he felt the same, he looked the same. The fact that I had let over two weeks pass by made absolutely no sense to me, now.

   He was smiling when I finally let him go, but I wasn't sure exactly what he was thinking. He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear, really looking at me, then ran his hand down my cheek. Just standing there in front of him was everything, and I knew at that moment I didn't want to leave his side again.

   "What are you doing here?" he asked, which surprised me.

   "I... left Siesta, and drove to Tampa. I spent a few days there, with my brother... and then I left and just started driving -" I was trying to explain how I ended up here.

   "Why didn't you call me? Or answer texts?" he wanted to know. Now his face was serious and he stepped back. The original shock of seeing me was gone. Now he wanted answers.

   My stomach tightened. "I'm sorry. I broke my phone, and then I listened to your voicemails when I got it fixed and..."

   "And? I was so worried about you. I didn't know if something happened. I drove back to the beach and your Aunt said you were gone."

   "I know, Harley. I'm sorry." I felt like I had to say it over and over until he believed me.

   "Izzie... listen to me..." he began again, looking right into my eyes. "I am really glad you're here, but... I need time to -" 

   "Harley, stop," Max cut in. "She's here, now. She's here."

   "Harley?" I asked him, confused.

   "I thought you were gone. Like, I thought I'd never hear from you again." He looked and sounded different, all of a sudden. I realized quickly that he was sad. And hurt. And maybe he wasn't going to forgive me.

   "I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. I was so angry that you left -"

   "I think we both need time to think about what this means," he whispered.

   I just wanted him to hold me, kiss me, tell me we were going to be okay. But he wanted time to think? He wanted to leave, to not be near me? I nodded, because I had no idea what else to do, so he turned and walked away. He looked back, but I was already turning away, crying. It wasn't supposed to be like this. This was supposed to make everything better. But maybe I was too late.