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.”

forgotten everything you did? Did you ever take my feelings seriously? You

waiting for me. I didn’t want to be tied down. I owe

–

me as a stranger now, don’t I deserve a chance to win you back? Since you’ve been gone, I can’t adjust to life without you.

wind off the bay whipped around us as

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

finally spoke, his voice was small. “But we had plans – college together, grad school, traveling

18.1%

Chapter 20

broke them first,” I said gently, “And I’ve found someone I actually want

now.”

reddening.