The-Lucky-List-Rachael-Lippincott

I think about all the years we’ve known each other. Our adventures in middle school. Our group of
friends, all piled together at a lunch table.
“I know,” I say. “And I should have. I should have then, and before that, and long before now.”
“So this is it? For real this time.”
“Yeah,” I say, nodding. “Breaking up, getting back together, trying to make it work. It’s not
working.”
He lets out a long exhale, pushing his unruly hair out of his eyes. “Did I do something wrong? Like…
this weekend? Or during our relationship? Or—”
“No! No,” I say, shaking my head. “Not at all. It’s not you at all. You’re the best guy in this whole
damn town. It’s… well. It’s me. I just… I don’t like guys, Matt. And I didn’t know how to admit that…
until now.”
He stares at me for a long moment while I hold my breath. I watch the gears turning, see him
putting two and two together in real time.
“Oh,” he says, his eyes lighting up with understanding. “Oh.”
“You don’t hate me, right?” I blurt out, worried that even our friendship will be ruined because I
couldn’t be honest. “I would get it if you did. I am so sorry, Matt. I mean, I should have—”
He shakes his head, but I can tell he’s in shock. “Of course I don’t hate you. I just… this is a lot.”
We’re both silent for a long moment, watching as a car passes. “Is it cool if I maybe just have some
space?” he asks, and I nod, standing up, my stomach falling through the floor as I walk down the steps.
“Matt, I…” I spin around, but my words trail o into silence. ere’s nothing le to say. “I’ll see you
around.”
I grab my bike and pedal away, biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from crying. But even as
my heart breaks a little further, I can’t help but feel like I finally did it.
Even though we aren’t together, I finally made it right.