“Bri.” She cocked her head to the side. “The last time we went out was before the holidays. You dumped Scott, got with Josh, and now it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day. Yeah, it’s been that long.”
I winced as I met her gaze. “I’m sorry, I’m a lousy friend, aren’t I?”
“I’m just teasing you.” She reached over the table and gave my hand a playful swat.
“Still—”
“Still nothing. I can’t be mad at you for holing up with the man you’ve loved your entire life and having daily amazing sex. I can hate you for it, but not be mad.”
A chuckle fell from my lips. Since Christmas Day, Josh and I hadn’t spent one night apart, and it was why I dreaded the long business trip I had to leave for in the morning.
“What does make me mad—no ketchup. And our lovely waitress has fluttered by three times and still hasn’t noticed me calling her over.” Amanda huffed and threw her napkin on the table.
“No ketchup bothers you that much?” I snickered and shook my head.
“I like a lot of ketchup with my fries; you know this. And bad service irks me. I was a waitress for a long time, and every time I have to eat a naked French fry, her tip dissipates in my head.” She gave me an exaggerated glare.
“Okay, cranky pants. I’ll steal a bottle from the counter.” I laughed and slid out of the booth. I crossed the checkered floor to the counter and scoured the surface for a bottle. I was about to reach for one at the far end when a tap on the shoulder made me jump.
“Hi, Brianna.” I froze, my stomach dropping at the sound of a formerly familiar voice.
My breath halted as I turned to lock eyes with Scott.
Since he stormed out of my apartment on Christmas morning, I hadn’t heard a word from him. Not a call, not a text, nothing. Gazing at him now, as he leaned his elbows onto the counter from where he sat on one of the stools, I wasn’t quite sure how to react. There was no other choice for me but Josh, no matter how long I’d tried to fight it. Still, when I peered at his pained blue eyes, I couldn’t help the twinge of—something. Guilt, nostalgia, or maybe I just missed him. Regardless of how we grew apart toward the end, I had good memories of Scott. Judging by his tentative stare, I’d bet he couldn’t recall anything good between us.
“Hi, Scott,” I breathed out as my heart and lungs were pumping too fast for my voice to work. “You look good. How . . . How are you?” I stammered, not knowing where to take the conversation from there.
“I’m good.” He swiveled the stool around, leaning back against the counter as he crossed his arms. “Business is good.” He nodded as he sucked in his bottom lip. “You look beautiful, like you always do.”
Grabbing the ketchup bottle, I backed away from Scott, not wanting to entertain the misplaced guilt growing in my gut. I was with who I was supposed to be with, although I’d always hate that I hurt him.
“I better get this back to Amanda before she flips. Have a good lun—”
“I wanted to call you so many times.” He sighed as he leveled his gaze at me. “I thought you’d have this out of your system by now.”
The guilt expelled from my gut in a rush; in its place, utter annoyance. Even now, he didn’t take me seriously.
“Scott, I’ve loved Josh since I was five years old. It was messy and for that I’ll always be sorry, but Josh will never be out of my system. We’re permanent.”
He rolled his eyes at me. “Permanent?” He stood and inched over to me. “He’s been gone for almost ten years doing God knows what. With . . . who knows who. You dropped everything, droppedus, for a bad boy fantasy you know nothing about.”
My hand balled into a fist at my side while I fought the overwhelming urge to clock him across his perfect face.
“I knoweverythingabout Josh. You don’t know anything about us or what we have. Enjoy your meal.” I turned on my heels and stomped back to our table, my hands shaking with an influx of emotions I couldn’t identify.
“Was that Scott you were just talking to?” Amanda whispered with widened eyes.
“Yes, and he’s still the same. Still dedicated to his job—and still an asshole.” I fidgeted in my seat, trying to calm myself down.
“Well, I could’ve told you that,” she chuckled. “What did he say?”
“Basically, he hinted that what we have isn’t real because I don’t really know what Josh was doing the entire time he was away.” I dropped the ketchup bottle in front of Amanda. I’d been clutching it in such a rage, I’d forgotten I was holding it. If I was honest with myself, the ‘who’ bothered me more than the ‘what.’
Her lips pursed as she unscrewed the cap. “And he got to you. You know that guy bleeds resentment right now and making you have doubts was exactly what he was trying to do.”
“I know, but . . .” I trailed off.
“But what? You guys are togethernow. What does that matter?”
