I turn to see Lucky about five feet from me. I’m at the bus stop outside Smith’s Gym. My class is over, and I’m on my way home to shower and change for school. Hearing the nickname that I used to love only reinforces my feelings. While I’m tired of being angry with my friends, I’m not ready to forgive just yet.
“Probably not.”
“You’re going to have to talk to me at some point.”
“Why is that?” I turn to face him.
“Your brother’s coming to visit. He’s staying at my place. You’ll have to pretend—”
“I’m not going to pretend shit.” I snap. “If he asks why I’m not talking to you, I’ll tell him.” Not like he’ll care. Joe’s really only interested in Joe. I know this because I’ve sent him numerous texts asking him how things are going out in San Francisco, but he’s yet to respond to any of them. Correction, he replied to one with a word: Yo. That’s it. I didn’t even know he was coming home. Nobody tells me anything.
“Look, Becklyn—”
Just then, the bus pulls up, the doors creak open, and I step on. Perfect timing. Now I don’t have to listen to any of his stupid excuses.
Except, when the bus pulls up to my complex, he’s there. Like he is every morning. Throwing my gym bag over my shoulder, I start to walk past him without even looking. I guess he’s had enough, because unlike other mornings where he just watches me pass, this time he’s moving to the sidewalk to block my path.
“Becklyn. Stop.” I don’t. I step onto the grass and attempt to walk around him. “Becklyn. Please.” Lucky’s voice is soft now. He sounds sad, if that’s possible.
Setting my heavy bag down, I turn to face him. This thing with him is exhausting. I just want to move on with my life. With my hands on my hips, I release a heavy sigh and ask, “What?”
“Look. I’m sorry, okay?”
I’ve heard that before. “Okay. Great. I accept your apology.” He hasn’t heard that yet.
“You do?”
“I do.” Bending, I pick my bag back up and throw it over my shoulder. “Now, can we get on with our lives?”
Lucky’s handsome face is all scrunched up in the middle like he can’t understand something. “What does that mean?”
“It means I accept your apology.” Duh.
“Are we back to where we were before?”
What the hell is he talking about? “Where were we before?”
“Friends.” It wasn’t a question, but there was a little bit of question in his voice.
“Sure.” I shrug the best I can with my heavy bag on my shoulder. “We’re friends.”
Lucky sighs like he’s relieved to hear those words. “So, you wanna come over for dinner?”
Is he crazy? “No. But, thank you.” I’ve taken two steps when his hand wraps around my upper arm.
“Babe…”
My head slowly turns until we’re looking into each other’s eyes. “What?”
“Why won’t you come to dinner? I thought you said things were back to normal.”
“Did I say that? That things are ‘back to normal’?” Yep, I sound like a total bitch. I’d love to tell you I can control it, but I can’t. I’d also like to tell you I can just forgive and forget about all of this, but that’s also a big ol’ no.
“Yes.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You wanted to be friends again. We’re friends again.”
“We used to—”
