He Promised Me Photos, She Got Them Instead Chapter 11

He Promised Me Photos, She Got Them Instead Chapter 11

On the day they were supposed to leave, Dylan headed out early. Although his family had already moved

away, he made the long detour to Hannah’s house so they could travel to college together.

But when the door opened, Mrs. Reed was standing there.

The moment she saw Dylan, she hurriedly held out the suitcase he had brought over the day before.

“Dylan, perfect timing. Hannah asked me to give you this.”

A chill swept through him from head to toe. He stood frozen on the doorstep, completely at a loss.

Mrs. Reed knew everything that had happened between them throughout high school.

Still, she could hardly bring herself to hold it against a kid, especially when Dylan looked so devastated.

She sighed.

“Hannah committed to UT Austin.”

“Her father and I have been close friends with your parents for years, and the two of you grew up together. None of us ever imagined things would turn out this way.”

“But they have. The best thing now is for both of you to move on.”

Dylan’s ears rang.

He did not take the suitcase from her. He even abandoned his own luggage on the doorstep before bolting

away.

He was going to UT Austin.

He would bring Hannah back.

When I arrived at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Nathan and Chloe were waiting outside for me.

Before I could say anything, they spoke at the same time.

“We just got here. Your timing was perfect.”

Nathan naturally took my suitcase from me, while Chloe took my hand.

“My brother’s helping with freshman airport pickup, so I made him save us seats at the front of the shuttle.”

Warmth spread through me as I watched Nathan walk ahead with my suitcase.

On the ride to campus, Nathan sat in the row behind Chloe and me.

Halfway there, a bottle of water suddenly appeared over my shoulder.

I turned around in surprise.

“Talking to her is exhausting, isn’t it?” Nathan said. “Drink some water and take a break.”

Chloe immediately twisted around and started arguing with him, finally giving me a chance to rest.

I had barely closed my eyes when my phone began buzzing nonstop.

When I checked it, every message was from Dylan.

Dylan: [Why didn’t you tell me you committed to UT Austin?]

Dylan: [You’re still mad at me, aren’t you?]

Dylan: [I know I shouldn’t have bailed on you, but Madison said going to the beach was her mother’s dying wish. She begged me to go with her. That’s the only reason I went.]

Dylan: [I swear it was just this once. From now on, we’ll go wherever you want.]

Dylan: [There’s nothing between Madison and me. I don’t have feelings for her. You’re the only one I have feelings for.]

Dylan: [I bought only two train tickets to New York, one for you and one for me. I didn’t buy one for Madison.]

Dylan: [Hannah, I’m at the entrance to UT Austin. Can we please talk?]

Dylan: [Please talk to me. We’ve known each other for fourteen years.]

The screen went dark just as the shuttle stopped at the entrance to UT Austin.

Through the window, I saw Dylan standing outside with bloodshot eyes.

His gaze was so intensely fixed on me that the moment I stepped off the shuttle, everyone knew exactly who

he was there for.

Chloe immediately moved in front of me protectively.

“Hannah, who is he?”

Nathan frowned and stepped between Dylan and me as well.

“You don’t have to be afraid.”

Chloe protecting me was one thing, but when Nathan did the same, Dylan charged toward us in a rage.

“Who are you? Why are you standing so close to Hannah?”

“Dylan, Nathan is an upperclassman here, and Chloe is my friend.”

Dylan had always been quick-tempered. Afraid he might start a fight, I hurried to intervene.

“Nathan, Chloe, this is…”

I glanced at Dylan, then smiled faintly.

“He’s a childhood friend. He came to talk to me. You two can go on ahead.”

Chloe was reluctant to leave.

Nathan pulled her a few yards away, though she kept glancing back at us.

“Hannah, what’s your relationship with that guy? The way he looks at you…”

“Dylan, did you come all this way just to say all that?”