She Thought Her Childhood Best Friend Had Chosen Another Girl — So She Walked Away Before He Could Tell Her the Truth
Chapter 10
Their annual family traditions continued.
But now Claire and Ryan were officially a couple.
Their families became even closer.
They spent weekends together.
Graduations approached.
Future plans began.
One night, Claire and Ryan walked through campus after their final exam.
“What happens after graduation?” she asked.
Ryan looked at her.
“What do you want?”
Claire smiled.
“That question sounds dangerous.”
“I mean it.”
She thought for a moment.
“I want my own career.”
“Good.”
“And I want to travel.”
“Good.”
“And I want you there.”
Ryan smiled.
“Even better.”
She leaned against him.
“Do you ever worry we’ll change?”
“Of course.”
“What if we do?”
He stopped walking.
“Then we’ll meet the new versions of each other.”
She smiled.
“You always say the right thing.”
“No.”
He kissed her forehead.
“I just know you.”
And that was the thing about Ryan.
He didn’t promise that life would never change.
He promised that he would keep learning who she became.
Claire finally understood that love wasn’t supposed to preserve people exactly as they were.
It was supposed to give them room to grow.
Together.
