The Best Man novel Chapter 61

"For now, just use this time to focus on yourself, eventually as time goes on you'll overcome and heal from this and find someone who will cherish everything about you"

"I really appreciate that. Thank you, Liv", I swallowed a sob that was threatening to burst out from inside me and covered it up with a smile instead.

"If you need anything or simply just want to talk, don't be afraid to call me up, okay?"

"Okay"

"I mean it Tristan", she warned shaking me by my shoulders before pointing her finger threateningly at me

"I will call you, I promise", I put my hands up in surrender, and she hummed in response, giving me that I'm still not convinced but okay look

"Good", she turned to the side again and we both looked up at the sky to admire the beautiful starlight. I turned to look at her to see she was completely absorbed by the view above us and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. We chatted a bit, reminiscing about all the good times we had at this lake, when it was just us against the world.

"You know, out of all the things in the world, there's nothing I value more than our friendship"

"Not even food?", she questioned playfully, and I laughed, shaking my head no

"Not even food"

"You don't say", she smiled, genuinely impressed as she entwined our fingers over her shoulder. "Something must be wrong with you because I'd never value you more than I value food dude"

"Shut up", I laughed, playfully pushing her away from me, and she smiled a little, coming back to rest her head on my shoulder again

"But seriously though Liv, I honestly can't imagine what it's like losing what I have with you", I said, and she looked up at me for a minute, a smile growing on her face before she wrapped her arms around me in a side hug

"We'll always be best friends Tristan, no matter what happens"

The next day after spending the night in a hotel, I went to the house to pack all my things up. I had already found a temporary apartment to rent in while I find a permanent place to live in. There was no sign of Mellisa at the time, giving me more time to take everything I had to my name and leave anything that would remind me of her or us behind. Everything seemed to fit at the back of the truck, I could just squeeze in my suitcases and travelling bags in the back seats. She could keep most of the furniture, I didn't want it. I was just going to start over.

After packing my last bag, I took one look at the place before I left it forever. At some point coming back home to her was one of the many moments I looked forward to every day and now all that had just perished.

"It's not even like that, I need you and I don't want to lose you"

"Ah yes, you need me to keep you together because without me I'm assuming you're just going to fall apart, right?"

"N-no. I need you for my own sanity"

"Your own sanity? And sacrifice losing mine in the process?", I raised my voice a little, and her eyes widened for a second as she folded her arms.

"We're not going to fix anything if you keep yelling at me"

"Why do you think we're going to fix anything? There's nothing to fix. We're done. It's over. That's it"

"I really don't understand what changed, what went wrong?"