Every time I’d glanced her direction on the ride to the diner, she’d been focused on the back seat as if she was searching for something.
“Thank you. It’s new, so I’m still getting used to all the features. The seats have their own heating and cooling if you want to try it out. One of the few things I’ve mastered,” I joked, hoping I’d get at least a smile out of her, but her face was unreadable when I looked her way.
“Um, no. I’m fine,” she said, her eyes once again wandering toward the back.
“Are you sure?”
“Why wouldn’t I be sure?”
“Because for most of the drive here, you’ve been staring into the back seat, like you’re looking for something or want to escape.” I chuckled, but still nothing from Emily but a quick nod.
It hadn’t exactly been comfortable sitting at the same table for the night, but we’d managed easy small talk. Now, her body was rigid with tension as her eyes darted everywhere but in my direction.
Maybe being alone with me kicked up the awkwardness between us. God knew I was nervous. I’d imagined seeing Emily again a million times in a hundred different ways, but I’d never known what I’d say to her.
Tonight, now that she was finally here, I was going with the truth, however it came out of my mouth.
Emily stayed silent as we headed toward the diner entrance, only speaking to the hostess to ask for a table for two.
We slid into opposite sides of one of the vinyl booths, exactly as we had when we were kids. Emily and I had spent hours in this diner, talking about everything and nothing.
It was a big contrast to now, as she looked like she wanted to bolt, but since I was her ride home, I had her cornered—or cornered enough to hear what I had to say.
“So, do you still want just coffee and cake, or something else?”
“Did you really ask me here for just coffee and a piece of cake?” she asked, flinging the laminated menu onto the table.
“No,” I said, setting the menu down. “I asked you here because I wanted a chance to explain how we…” I groaned, once again losing any coherent words when it came to Emily. “Why I did what I did that night.”
“Explain,” Emily said, narrowing her eyes. “Now?”
“I know it’s been a really long time, but I’ve thought about that night—and about you—a lot over the years.”
“You did?” She huffed out a laugh. “That’s funny because Ineverheard from you again after that.”
So, she did care—at least, enough to glower at me from across the table.
“Okay, fine.” She crossed her arms and leaned back. “Explain or say whatever you brought me here to say.”
I nodded, sucking in a deep breath before resting my elbows on the table.
“That night, before I got to your house, I was out with some of the guys, and they were talking about you.”
“Talking about me?” Emily’s brows drew together.
“Yes, talking about you. Theyalwaystalked about you.”
“They did? You never told me that. What did they say?”
I rolled my eyes. “A couple of them used to make stupid jokes about you being a star athlete, if you were thatlimberwhen we were alone.”
Her brows popped up.
“Ew,” she said, her face twisting with disgust. “That’s gross.”
“Tell me about it. I’d ignore it for the most part—or try to. But they’d always bring you up, like they couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have you. I didn’t disagree.”
I caught an eye roll from her but kept going.
