Seven Years of Love Seven Minutes of Truth

Chapter 20

There’s this saying about breakups – women grieve immediately but heal in a month, while men might take ages to realize what they’ve lost. Then comes the desperate backpedaling.

Aiden’s backpedaling came late after six months of playing the field and a quiet winter break, he suddenly became a constant presence in my life.

I never figured out what excuse he gave Columbia for missing classes, but he kept showing up in California. Designer gifts appeared at my door – I returned them all. He’d wait outside my dorm for hours, refusing to leave. When he caught me, he’d trail me to class, to the dining hall, everywhere.

Jake was beside himself, torn between amusement and irritation. “You know, most girls don’t have their exes fly across the country to stalk them,” he’d joke, but I could hear the worry beneath.

Mrs. Carter called constantly, frantic that Aiden was risking academic probation, begging me to talk sense into him. The irony wasn’t lost on me – the perfect son throwing everything away for the girl he’d once taken for granted.

Finally, I confronted him by the bay.

Aiden immediately lost it. “Why can Jake pursue you but I can’t? He’s known you for what, five minutes? I’ve known you my whole life. Nobody knows you like I do, nobody’s better for you than me.”

but laugh. “Really, Aiden? Have you forgotten everything you did? Did you ever take my feelings seriously? You just loved having someone worship you, knowing

truth, he cracked. “Yes, I messed up. I was young and stupid, thought the whole world was waiting for me. I didn’t

–

you back? Since you’ve been gone, I can’t adjust

off the bay whipped around us as

walking on eggshells. I can be myself now, my happiness doesn’t depend on someone else’s mood. Maybe what I felt for

“But we had plans – college together,

18.1%

Chapter 20

found someone I actually want

now.”

finally broke, eyes reddening. “Stop, please