FreeNovel
Chapter 106
“Listen, I just came to talk,” he finally says. “If you don’t want to, I understand.”
I can’t look away from him; his presence is too overwhelming, too filled with a history I’ve been trying to
ignore. “You came to talk? Really? Because last time we talked, you made it abundantly clear how you
felt about my success.”
His eyes narrow, stung by my accusation. “I am happy for you, Abby. I wish you would believe that.”
“How can I believe it?” I retort, gripping the edge of the counter to keep my hands from shaking. “Your
entire demeanor changed. You said yourself that the competition would get in the way of the party.”
Karl looks down, exhaling slowly like he’s measuring each breath, weighing each word before it leaves
his mouth. “You’re right. I said some stuff last night that I shouldn’t have, because I was angry. But I am
happy for you, Abby. Way more than you realize. And I’m sorry.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtMy eyes meet his, searching for any sign of insincerity. All I find is a quiet regret that somehow makes
me even angrier. “Sorry doesn’t just erase things, Karl. You being angry about my success tells me
you’re not supportive of me, and I don’t have room for that kind of negativity in my life right now.”
He looks up, his eyes intense and unwavering. “I want to be supportive, Abby. I messed up. Let me
make it right.”
“You really want to support me?” I can’t keep the skepticism out of my voice. “Or is this just another
attempt to win me back? Because those are two very different things.”
He steps closer, closing the gap between us, and I involuntarily hold my breath. “I can’t lie and say I
don’t want you back. But above all, I care about you, Abby. That’s never changed, even when
everything else did.”
His words touch something raw inside me, a nerve I thought I’d killed off long ago. I look into his eyes,
and for a moment, just a moment, I let myself believe him. “You caring about me and showing it are two
very different things. You have a funny way of showing you care.”
“I know,” he says softly, “and I’m sorry for that. I never wanted to hurt you. That’s the last thing I ever
wanted to do.”
His sincerity disarms me, leaving me exposed. I’ve fortified myself with layers of resentment and
independence, but now, standing in front of him, it all feels paper-thin. “Well, you have a knack for
accomplishing the last thing you ever wanted to do,” I say, my voice softer than I’d like it to be.
He lets out a shaky breath, like he’s been holding it in for as long as I have. “Can we start over? Can I
be the person who supports you, the way I should’ve been all along?”
The question hangs in the air, filled with a weighty mixture of hope and regret. I want to believe that
people can change, that old wounds can heal and become nothing more than scars. But life has taught
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me to be cautious, especially when it comes to Karl.
“I hope you mean that,” I finally say, “and not just because you see it as a way to get back into my life,
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or my heart. Because right now, all I need is a friend who genuinely cares.”
He nods, his eyes searching mine like he’s committing them to memory. “I’ll always care about you,
Abby. Above all else, always.”
A heavy silence falls between us. I don’t know what to say; Karl’s sincerity has me taken aback, leaving
me reeling. All I can do is lower my gaze and stare down at the collapsed souffle that’s sitting on the
counter between us.
Karl clears his throat, his fingers reaching out to grab the souffle dish and pull it closer, inspecting it.
After a few moments, his brown eyes meet mine, and there’s a touch of a smile on his lips.
“Let me help you,” he says gently.
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