My Parents Deleted My Only Graduation Photo for My Bestie Chapter 08

My Parents Deleted My Only Graduation Photo for My Bestie Chapter 08

The virtual meeting was two days away.

Logan caught the earliest flight out, rented a car, and drove another three hours just to reach

Westridge.

By the time he pulled up, it was already dark.

The wind here was dry and sharp, the kind that bit into your skin.

He stood outside my apartment building, and for the first time, he understood what two thousand

miles actually meant.

He’d always assumed I’d never actually leave.

That whenever he found it convenient to turn around, I’d still be standing right where he left me.

Now, just to see me once, he’d had to cross half the country.

I spotted him the second I got off work. He was waiting under the harsh glare of a streetlight.

It had been over a month. He’d lost weight.

The second he saw me, his eyes welled with tears.

“Audrey.” His voice cracked. “I’m sorry.”

I stopped in my tracks, my face blank.

The words spilled out of him too fast, like he was terrified I’d just walk away.

“I shouldn’t have deleted that photo on graduation day.”

“When you were sick and you called me, I should’ve come. I shouldn’t have chosen her over you.

I listened. No tears. No anger.

That scared him more than yelling ever could.

He could read it on my face. I didn’t even hate him anymore.

I just didn’t care.

Before, whenever any of them hurt me, I’d beg for an explanation.

Why didn’t he choose me?

Why was it always Chloe first?

Why was my own boyfriend always standing beside someone else?

But now I didn’t ask anything.

Because when you stop asking questions, it means the answers don’t matter anymore.

Logan lowered his voice.

“I always thought you didn’t need me. That you were fine on your own.”

“Now I get it. I never gave you a reason to need me.”

I stared at him.

“Is that really why you flew two thousand miles? Just to apologize?”

Logan shifted uncomfortably. Then the truth came out.

“It’s also about the Zenith bid.”

“Can you… can you just make sure Zenith passes the initial review?”

“Chloe just started. This project decides whether she passes probation.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

“So even your apology is about her.”

Logan frantically backpedaled.

“No. I just mean, can you keep it professional? Don’t take what happened between us out on Chloe.”

I cut him off.

“I’ve always kept it professional.”

“You’re the only ones who ever expected me to bend the rules for you.

Logan opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

I turned to leave. He grabbed my wrist.

“Let go.”

I didn’t raise my voice. I didn’t have to.

“If you’re here about the bid, then here’s your answer. The review is based on whether the proposal

meets our requirements. That’s it. Nothing else.”

“Don’t waste your time trying to guilt-trip me. I evaluate specs, not relationships.”

I tried to yank my arm away, but his grip tightened.

“Are you ever coming back?”

“We…”

I didn’t let him finish.

“Enough, Logan.”

“I moved two thousand miles away for a reason. To get away from all of you.”

“I’m not going back. I don’t need any of you anymore.”

His grip went completely slack.

I walked through the lobby doors and never looked back.

Behind me, Logan stood alone in the cold Westridge wind.

Maybe he was finally remembering all those nights I’d waited for him.

Back then, he’d said:

“Chloe needs me more.”

Now it was his turn to stand there.

But I didn’t need him anymore.