The Day That Saved Us (32 page)

I’VE JUST FINISHED
helping my mom fix the garbage disposal when Harper’s number lights up my screen.
Why is she calling me?

“Hey, Harp, the honeymoon phase can’t be over yet.” I tuck my phone between my shoulder and ear as I dry off my hands. “You miss me that much?”

“Ha. The honeymoon phase will never be over.”

I chuckle. Sounds about right. “Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

“Oh, you know…”

I wait. “No, I really don’t. Is everything okay?”

She sighs heavily into the phone. “I tried keeping my nose to myself, but she’s my best friend, and her business is my business.” I think I know where this is going. “Peyton can’t marry Tyler, Brodee.”

I exhale and release my humorless laugh. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Tyler’s no good for her. He’s such a jerk, and she doesn’t even see it. He’s not the same guy from her summer flings.”

I toss the dishtowel onto the counter and begin to pace. “Again, you’re going to have to be more specific. I agree with you one hundred percent, but I have a feeling my reasons are a smidge different than yours.”

“Didn’t you notice how different she was when you came home? Cutting off all her hair and dying it platinum blonde. Not to say it isn’t cute, but I tried getting her to dye her hair for years and she refused. Then all of a sudden she’s engaged to Tyler, and she gets a hair makeover after twenty-one years? She looks like a freaking Stepford wife.”

“Maybe she just wanted a change. We’ve all needed a little bit of change recently.”

“It’s not just that,” she counters. Once Harper is on a roll, there’s no stopping her, so I listen patiently. “Did you notice how she quietly remained by his side all night long. Or how about the amount of food she ate. Did you see how he talked her out of that piece of cake? I nearly punched him. And that’s not even the first time I’ve seen him do something like that.” I can hear her noises of disdain on the other end. She sounds like she ate a bad piece of seafood. “He doesn’t want her to gain any weight. The man needs the
perfect
trophy wife since he’s going to be
Doctor
Hamilton, you know. I once heard him say, ‘Better stay skinny for me’ as she was eating a bowl of pasta and then smacked her butt. Like, he thinks he’s being funny or trying to play off his rude comment as a joke. But I heard the tone in his voice; it was nothing but condescending. Most of all, Brodee, it’s my gut. I feel it. He’s no good for her.”

I was praying the cake was a one-time incident, that Peyton would be smarter than that. It’s not like her to let anyone make her feel embarrassed for what she eats or how much she could eat. Peyton needed all that food to feed her energy, to fuel all the gymnastics and surfing. She could out-eat me any day. I once witnessed her eat an entire pizza. Not a personal pan size, but a large, feed-an-entire-family kind of pizza. It was impressive.

“I tried talking to her at the wedding, but she brushed it off, said he was trying to help her keep her weight goals for the wedding,” I tell Harper. “The gentleman that he is, he was trying to help her out so there didn’t need to be extra alterations to her wedding dress.”

“That’s such…” Harper let’s out a string of expletives. “She doesn’t see it, Brodee, but he’s a controlling codfish. Almost like he wants to change everything about who she used to be, so she can be his Barbie doll and no one else’s.”

A sudden wave of nausea knocks me in the gut. “Is he physically abusing her? Has he ever hit her? Because I will kill him.”

“No,” she says with certainty. “At least not that I know of. I don’t think she’d stick with him if it got that bad. But just because he’s not physically abusive doesn’t mean the mental or emotional manipulation is any better.”

“No, of course not. I just want to know what we’re dealing with. How much control does he really have?” Her physical appearance, clearly. “Is there anything else I should know about?”

“Do you know how many times I saw her last year?” Harper doesn’t give me the chance to answer. “Twice. I needed my best friend and maid of honor to help me plan the wedding, but she just couldn’t manage to get a single weekend away after Skylar and I got engaged. Does that sound like Peyton to you?”
Not at all.
“He wouldn’t let her come home on the weekends or visit without him. She’d say it was because he was busy with school, and she didn’t want to leave him behind, but I know it’s because he wouldn’t let her come. He doesn’t want her out of his sight. He’s so possessive, to the point that it scares me, Brodee.”

I can’t see straight.

Harper continues, “Even if it’s not physical now, what if it becomes that way? Whipping her into shape to be the picture perfect family. Did you know that after he graduates, they’re staying in North Carolina to be near his family? And while things aren’t great with Olivia and Nick, I know Peyton would much rather stay close to home. But it’s like he wants to isolate her, keep her from everyone who knows and loves her. And maybe he’s not overly controlling yet, but I see him inching in. Every time I talk to her or see her, it’s worse. I think Peyton’s been with him for so long, he’s slowly dug his claws into her, and she doesn’t even see how she’s changed for him.”

“Have you talked to her about this?”

Harper sighs. “I tried once, but as soon as I started to hint at his controlling tendencies she got defensive, told me I was being ridiculous and jumped down my throat, throwing out instances where Skylar has said something controlling to me. Skylar couldn’t be controlling if he tried.” I snort. If anything, the roles are reversed, but I don’t dare say that to Harper. “I don’t want her shutting me out more than she already has, so I’ve kept my mouth shut.”

“So, it’s not like Peyton’s crying for help. She doesn’t even see it or want to believe it,” I conclude.

“I just thought maybe you could try talking to her. I know things have been a bit strained between you two, but if she’ll listen to anyone, it’s you.”

“What am I supposed to say? You’ve been with her more than I have. Peyton and I are just beginning to gain our friendship back.”

“Do you still love her?” I exhale and choose not to respond. I think I’ll love Peyton for my whole life. She’s my first love. It won’t be a choice. Like the ache after losing someone, the grief never leaves, but it ebbs. Other people in life may become bigger parts of the heart, while a first love inhabits a protected corner—secluded—but never forgotten.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Harper says, because I don’t respond. “Use that to your advantage. Woo her away from him with your love.”

“Harper,” I groan. “It’s not that simple. I’m with Brooke. I’m in
love
with Brooke. I’m moving to Boston with her, and I’m not going to screw it up. I can’t just go throwing around the L-word with Peyton. I’ll talk to her, but I’m moving on. I have to.”

“What does it matter if you love Brooke? Peyton needs to know you love her, too.”

“She does know, and it doesn’t matter!” I regret snapping as soon as the words are out of my mouth. “I’m sorry,” I say with a lowered voice.

Harper is silent for a moment. “Have you told her recently?”

“No, but she knows. I’ll never stop loving her.” I shake my head, pinching the bridge of my nose. “But that changes nothing. I asked Brooke to come to Boston with me. Peyton made it clear that nothing will ever come of us. And I’m okay with it. I want a fresh start with Brooke. I deserve happiness, too.”

“Okay,” Harper accepts. “Then, at least as a brother or a best friend or whatever you’re calling yourself, talk to her.”

“I will. And it’s best friend. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“I’ll be waiting. Don’t take too long. Tyler is supposed to come visit next weekend. Talk to her before then.”

Why can’t he just stay in North Carolina?
“Okay.”

IT’S BEEN A
couple days, and I’m still thinking about my conversation with Harper. Tyler will be here in two days, and I haven’t figured out the best way to approach Peyton. Any way that comes to mind makes me sound jealous or insane. Maybe I’m both. I don’t even know anymore. In no way can I allow her to think I’m jealous of Tyler though. I’ll have to call her. This won’t work in person.

“Hey,” she answers on the first ring. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

She pauses. “You just haven’t called for no reason in a long time. And since I’m right next door, it’s weird. Why didn’t you just come over?”

Because I don’t know how to do this. Our dynamic is all screwed up. I don’t know how to talk about this in person. I’d have to look her in the eye to tell her Tyler isn’t good enough for her. In person, I can’t hide facial expressions and reactions. I don’t come up with a good response fast enough.

“Brodee? Is there a reason you called?”

I also hate that I have to have a reason. We used to talk just to talk. Now I can’t even call her without getting the third degree. “Just wanted to chat. See how the wedding planning is going.”

Honestly, I’d rather gouge out my eyes with a hot fire poker than hear her talk about the details of her upcoming nuptials, but I’ll have to suck it up this once.

“Oh.” She isn’t buying it. “Really?”

“You set a date yet?”

“April 9th.”

I nearly choke. It’s January 6
th
. Three months. She wants to get married in three months? “You weren’t kidding when you said it would be a short engagement.”

“Yeah, well, Tyler begins dental school at the end of April, and we want to get married before that so...”

“Right. Can’t mess around. I bet Olivia is freaking out trying to get everything put together.”

“Yeah.” She laughs, almost getting pleasure out of Olivia’s pain. “Kind of. But like I said…it will be a small wedding, so she doesn’t have to worry about much. And Tyler’s mom doesn’t have a daughter, so she’s more than willing to get in on all the wedding planning. They’ve split a lot of the preparations to get it done.”

“That’s cool.” I try to think of something to add. “Harper and Skylar’s wedding give you any ideas?”

“That wedding was very Skylar and Harper, let’s put it that way.” She laughs.

“So you have the what-you-don’t-want list.”

Her amusement continues. “Definitely, yes. Though Harper did have some good ideas, I don’t want to copy her. Our wedding should reflect us, not Harper and Skylar.”

I agree, which might be the best segue into the conversation that I’ll get. “You know, when I first saw you I was really shocked. It took a second to realize it was you. Why did you decide to cut your hair?”
Subtle, Brodee.

“Harper talked to you, didn’t she?” There’s no question in her tone.
How does she know?

“Why would that be something Harper talked to me about? I just realized I never asked you. You’ve never had short hair before, so I wanted to know what sparked the change.”

“Gosh. She’s such a drama queen. Would you tell Harper to cool her jets and worry about something that actually needs to be worried about.”

I start back peddling. “This isn’t about Harper, Pete. I noticed a change in you. I just wanted to talk to you about it.”

“Why wouldn’t I have changed? It’s been four years, Brodee. It’s called growing up.”

It’s not that she changed. There’s nothing wrong with changing, as long as she’s doing it for herself and not for him. “Sure. Everyone grows up. But why did you cut off all your hair and dye it white?” I ask again. After our surfing trip, I feel like we’re closer to where we used to be, that I could be a little more evasive. Even if it means I’ll piss her off.

“Because I felt like it, okay? I’ve never had short hair. I wanted to know what it would be like. Yes, Tyler liked the idea, too. But I came up with it.”

“Makes sense. No need to jump down my throat.”

Peyton sighs. “I’m sorry. Harper just has it in her head that Tyler is this controlling boyfriend, err…fiancé. And he’s not. He’s really not, Brodee.”

“Okay. I believe you.” I don’t. I really don’t. But I don’t feel like I can argue any further. I have no claim to her life. Nor have I been there for any of their conversations. She could very well be telling the truth. For all I know, Harper might be building this up in her head. It doesn’t mean I think he’s good enough for her.

“I’m heading to Isle of Palms tomorrow morning. You up for it?”

She pauses before answering. I imagine her sitting on her bed, wanting to say no just to spite me, but she can’t resist the waves when they call to her. “Yeah. Sure.”

“Meet me at six in my driveway?”

I hear the smile in her voice. “I’ll be there.”