Page 45 of For Your Consideration

Asher

Me

Today has been terrible.

Sutton

Good morning to you too!

And how is that possible? It’s 8 am.

Me

I answered Noah’s text.

Sutton

I’m intrigued.

Me

I’ll explain later.

Sutton

Too much texting, I get it. Have you ever heard of voice notes?

Me

Because I love talking?

Sutton

Hmmm. Forgot about that. Oh well.

Well, I meant to send this to you last night, so hope it helps.

*sent photo*

She won’t sleep without the grizzly bear you bought her.

Screamed when I moved it last night as I got her in bed.

So although I was against it, she loves it.

Me

Today’s looking up.

“How the fuck did he convince you to come to this?” Jaxson asked, coming up next to me as I glared and shoved my phone back in my pocket.

My mood had improved marginally when Sutton sent me the picture of Sophie snuggled up with the grizzly bear I’d bought at the zoo. We’d seen the stuffed animal on our way out, and when Sutton pointed it out, I knew I couldn’t leave without it.

Sutton had tried to pay, which was almost insulting. I’d made more money in investments the whole time we were at the zoo than I had spent on the thing.

The things Sutton had shared with me, they hurt me deep in my bones. The woman was pure goodness and she didn’t deserve the way those assholes had made her feel. It didn’t sit right with me. But I could tell she wasn’t going to believe anything I said; some shit was too deeply ingrained. So I would keep showing up, trying to prove to her that sometimes people did stick around.

It had been a hard lesson for me to learn too.