Chapter 8

~Dante~

I had so many opportunities to tell Lola how I felt. I wasn’t brave like the 16-year-old me. When I told her I’d be her Prince Charming and she’d be my princess when she reached the age of consent, I meant it. She kept the promise and valued the promise. She never complained when she saw me with my latest flings. She was there for me, hurting and wishing I would one day remember our promise. It’s not like I didn’t remember the promise. I couldn’t tell her how I felt. I just couldn’t. I had a reason to leave work early because I had someone waiting for me. She was there to celebrate every achievement with me. She was my rock. If only I had been bold enough, she couldn’t have left. If only I had told her how I felt on her prom night. If only I had come clean on our dinner date. I was so stupid. I would take her on dinner dates, wanting to tell her I loved her, but those three words wouldn’t come out. I wasted time, and the ifs don’t matter now because I lost her. I lost my smile