“So, you’d rather deny yourself potentially years of happiness with this person that you love all because you think it might go wrong one day?”

“It’s easier.”

That earns me a firm slap on the back of the head.

“Ow!”

“You’re a fucking idiot.”

“Whatever.”

Lindsay stands up. “You both love each other. I can feel that. I could see that. You’re so in love with each other it makes me want to throw up, and you ended it because of some future that might not even exist.”

“I—”

“Neil.” Lindsay breathes in and out slowly. “Love is a risk, okay? Every single person in love takes a risk every single day of their lives. And yes, there are relationships that end. People break up. They get divorced.”

“You’re not selling the image here.”

“But they last too. They get married, they stay together, they’re happy.”

“But what—”

“You’ve got to stop asking ‘what if,’ ” she tells me.

“Easier said than done.”

Lindsay sighs. “Yeah.”

What if Wyatt doesn’t want me back? What if they’ve decided that they don’t want to talk to me anymore, that they never want to see me ever again?

“Fear is natural, dude. If you’re afraid of losing someone, that must mean they’re important to you. Right?”

Her words make sense.

And I feel so stupid for not seeing it sooner.

“I’m a fucking moron.” I could vomit.

“Yeah, yeah, you are.” Lindsay starts to rub circles on the small of my back. “But it’s not too late to apologize to him.”

“What time is it?”

Lindsay grabs her phone from her bag. “Eleven thirty.”

My stomach sinks.

“It is too late.”

“His flight already left?”

I nod.

“Then have the best time that you can this weekend; maybe even leave after the wedding. He’ll still be waiting for you in North Carolina.” I try to stop the shaking of my hands. “I fucked up.”

“Yeah, you did.” Lindsay stands, grabbing her things. “You really want my advice?”

I watch her as she makes her way back over to the door.

“Why ask? You’re going to give it anyway.”

“Cute.” She gives me a fake laugh. “Talk to Josh. I think the two of you have some things you need to work out before you talk to Wyatt again.”

I hate that I know she’s right.

It’s what I should’ve done in the first place.

“He’s not the paranoid weirdo you made him out to be,” she says. “He’s a good guy, Neil. With a big heart and a lot of love for you.”

“I know.”

“Good. Talk to him tomorrow, okay?”

“I will.”

Lindsay opens the door slowly. “I’ll see you in the morning?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Get some sleep.”