Page 63 of Mr. Principal

I shook my head. “Piper, I don’t know. I’m just so emotional now, I’m just not ready to talk to him.”

“Too late,” she said, looking over my shoulder and through her front window. “He’s here. I’ll give you two some privacy.”

She stood up, grabbed her purse, put on some sunglasses and disappeared through her door.

“See you guys,” she said happily as she bounced past a startled Carter.

We both watched as she climbed into her car and drove off.

“Why haven’t you returned any of my calls?” he asked immediately.

“I’ve had a lot on my mind and didn’t know what to say.”

“Listen, I’m sorry for what happened. I’m not sorry for punching Tom, but I am sorry that I did it in front of Meredith.”

“Okay.”

“Okay is all you have to say?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know. You could say that you forgive me.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know how I feel. I really don’t. I just think right now our emotions are raw and I don’t want to say anything that I’ll regret, but I think we should take a break.”

He looked like I’d hit him. The shock that registered on his face…

“A break? We just started seeing each other.”

“I know,” I said, looking down unable to face him. “I just feel like maybe me and you, like maybe this was a mistake… things just went so fast and got complicated so soon.”

“So you regret what happened with us?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know. I just can’t handle this—us—right now. I just can’t. Tom’s taking me to court and I just don’t want to complicate things right now.”

“So that’s it then?”

His voice was quiet, and I forced myself to look at him. He was trying to hide it but I could tell my words hurt him. I swallowed hard, trying to hold back tears, but hoping that I was doing the right thing. I desperately hoped I knew what I was doing. Wasn’t this best for everybody? For Meredith? For me?

“I just know how bitter and mean Tom can be. I don’t want him to destroy your career and I think I’m confusing Meredith.”

“You can stop with the excuses. I get it.” He stood up.

“I’m just looking out for you and Meredith.”

“You don’t have to explain… I get it.” His tone was bitter, and I found myself getting upset. I was feeling judged and so I lashed out.

“Why are you angry with me? I’m just doing what I think is best.”

“I’m tired of hearing the same excuse. I heard it eight years ago and you’re using the same excuse now. I’m not sure why I convinced myself that this time would be different. I’m not sure why I even tried.”

“You’re one to talk. You haven’t even been around for almost a decade. You were supposed to be my best friend but you left. I needed you and you left.” My voice cracked. And now we were getting to the truth of the matter.

“I left because I couldn’t stand seeing you married to him. It was hard enough to know you went back to him after being in my arms and you expected me to just accept it.”

“We were friends, Carter. I didn’t want to mess up what we had by letting our mess up, well, mess things up,” I said, sounding desperate. My voice was already feeling raw.

“Mess things up? Do you know how I felt after you literally went from my bed to seeking him out?”