Chapter 19 Chapter 19 I accepted admission to Stanford, moving with my family to Palo Alto.
When I heard Zephyr had managed to get into UC Davis after all, I simply nodded, unsurprised.
Despite everything ugly between us, weâd known each other most of our lives.
I was genuinely glad heâd found his way back to a better path.
For his sake and his parentsâ. But Stanford and Davis- One in Silicon Valley, one in the Central Valley. Different worlds, different futures, different lives.
I spent the entire summer traveling, exploring national parks and cities Iâd never seen.
It wasnât until welcome week that I heard from old classmates: Zephyr had been frantically searching for me all summer.
I hadnât shared my location with anyone from high school. I âd made sure my parents understood the full situation to prevent any accidental information leaks.
But somehow, he still managed to find me on campus during the first week of classes.
Zephyr looked roughâhis usually perfect hair unwashed, dark circles under bloodshot eyes, clothes wrinkled like heâd slept in them.
A year ago, I would have found his disheveled appearance heartâwrenching.
Now I just noticed how ordinary he looked without his carefully maintained image.
Girls still glanced his way, but with confusion rather than admiration.
âZephyr? What are you doing here?â I asked, genuinely shocked.
He looked down at me, desperation in his eyes.
âYou disappeared without a word. You canât just vanish like that, Phoebe.â
44.4%
Chapter 19 âWe had a plan to go to Davis together. I busted my ass to get in. Why arenât you there?â
1 shifted uncomfortably, âZephyr, I thought I made myself perfectly clear months ago.â
His voice rose with emotion: âPhoebe, you canât do this to me!â
âYouâre throwing away thirteen years over one bad patch.â
âI broke up with Katherine, cut off Derek and Mason and all those guys, quit drinking, havenât touched a cigarette in monthsâ
I did everything right!â
I sighed, feeling nothing but mild annoyance at the interruption to my day, âZephyr, those are all things you should have done for yourself, not for me.â
âI never asked you to dump Katherine. I genuinely donât care about your relationship status anymore.â
That visibly stung him.
âLook, I know you were always trying to help me be better. I was the asshole.â
âIf you want me on my knees begging, Iâll do it right here in front of everyone. Just tell me what itâll take...â
âPhoebe, after everything weâve been through, donât I deserve one more chance?â
âNothing makes sense without you. I canât sleep, canât focusâI need you back in my life.â
He pulled out our childhood stuffed animalsâthe rabbit and dogâholding them out like peace offerings.
âI was completely wrong before. But Iâve changed everything. Iâll spend forever making it up to you.â âPlease donât leave me behind, Phoebe.â
I didnât reach for them, just replied quietly: âSome things canât be fixed with apologies, Zephyr.â
âEven if youâre sorry, I canât forget what happened.â
âI remember you thinking about Katherine while using me, treating my body like a convenience, laughing about me with your friends, forcing yourself on me in that bathroom...â
The Quinad Pride of Velvet Nights 44.7%
Chapter 19 âStop!â
Zephyrâs eyes glistened, his voice breaking.
âI know it was all my fault. I was the worst person possible to you.â
âI just want a chance to make things right, to earn your trust back. Is that really impossible?â
I glanced at my watch, growing impatient.
âZephyr, not all broken things can be repaired. This is one of them.â
As he started to respond, another voice called out.
âHey! Sorry Iâm late. Professor Charles kept us overtime.â
Sid jogged up and took my hand naturally, his smile warm as he greeted me with a quick kiss.
He nodded politely to Zephyr: âSorry to interrupt. Phoebe and I have lunch reservations offâcampus.â
The way Sidâs fingers interlaced with mineârespectful, supportive but never possessiveâsaid everything about why Iâd finally opened my heart again.
His kindness had never been a strategy; it had simply been who he was all along.
â¡ (0)
â(0)