Page 73 of Come Back to Me

Violet

Well, I need to be a functioning human to play basketball and talk. I’m going to bed. Good night, Gray

Me

Good night, Vi

Why was that oddly therapeutic, and why did it also give me whiplash?

My anger towards her isn’t as elevated as it was when I first saw her. I feel kind of relieved and guilty at the same time. Relieved because anger and me are a deadly combination, especially when alcohol was involved. Guilty because I should be mad at her, right?

This is why I haven’t been in another relationship. I couldn’timagine how challenging a relationship would be with someone entirely new.

If I'm being honest, the only person I want to be with is Violet. I know she’s not ready to be in a relationship with me again. As much as I want it, I’m not ready yet. Being friends is the best option for us right now.

“Hey.” Noah stands in the doorway until he decides to sit on my bed.

“Hey.”

He stares at me, drilling a hole in my face.

“What?”

He turns his face and points at it with his index finger with his cheek being at eye-level. “Hit me.”

“I’ve been thinking about it.”

“Well, do it.”

“I’m not going to hit you, man.” I glance at the doorway. “Where’s Xander?”

“He crashed. I think he ate too much at dinner.”

“I’m still amazed he can eat more than I can.”

“Me, too.” He looks up at the ceiling. “So…do you want to talk about it?”

“What? Seeing my ex-girlfriend and the love of my life who broke my heart after six years? Sure, why not?”

“We don’t have to,” he says.

“I don’t mind. I’ve come to terms with my anger. All I hope is that she tells me why she did what she did.”

Noah sits down on my desk chair. “She will. You need to be patient with her. You don’t know how bad it was. I was the only person she had to talk to. She didn’t have anybody, Gray.”

“I know. She told me. We aired out a lot of shit, but we still have a lot more to discuss. I’m meeting her at her apartment tomorrow. I forgot how intense her anxiety can be.”

“Did something happen?”

“She had a panic attack in ourbathroom. I hate seeing her like that. It breaks my heart.” I point to the hallway with my thumb. “I danced with her because I know it used to soothe her back in high school when she’d have panic attacks.”

“Anxiety sucks. It always helps when you’re with someone who understands what it’s like, even if they experience it differently than you do.”

I’d do anything to have that with Violet again.

I sit down on my bed. “How was it when you and Dani went from hating each other to how you feel about each other now?”

“For years, you told me I had feelings for her, and I kept denying it. I knew deep down you were right. When I admitted my feelings for her, everything started to make sense. We were meant to be together and not work against each other. Why do you ask?”