There’s nothing to discuss but the past. The way we ripped our relationship apart instead of letting go at a high-point, and preserving the memory. I’d wanted to look back on us and see the innocent, first love, remember the rush and first-times that could never belong to anyone else. I’d let Noah talk me into a long-distance relationship, and with that we took away our chance at remember-when’s that don’t hurt. Instead of being my high-school sweetheart, Noah is the man who broke my heart.
As if the all-encompassing hurt doesn’t still sting, I hear myself agree.
It’s a masochistic move, but I can’t help it. The pain is worth it.
“Can I have your phone?” he asks, hand out. “I’m assuming you got a new number in the last four years?”
I place it in his palm without a word. I kept my number the same for two years, and then Dayton talked me into changing it. He said it would be a fresh start, and eliminate the possibility that Noah could be on the other end of my ringing phone. Changing the number took my very last hope, but I begrudgingly admitted that was a good thing.
Noah keys in his number, and a second later his pocket vibrates.
“There.” His grin reaches his ears. “We’ve officially exchanged numbers. Now I can call and tell you where we’re going tonight.” His pocket starts vibrating again, and it doesn't stop.
“My brother’s waiting for me.” He backs up a few steps. “Tonight, Ember.” His deep voice strokes my name, taking me back to our final day at the lake, the day Mother Nature’s tears fell over us for what we were about to do to ourselves.
“Tonight,” I echo softly, watching him go.
The door closes and Dayton walks up behind me. “Ohhhh, sweet girl.” He rests his head on my shoulder. “He’s better than you let on.”
“He wasn’t always that big.” I want to bring Noah’s clout down a smidge. Make him a little less overwhelming.
“Was he always that handsome?” Dayton reaches around me with my wallet in his hand.
I take it and stuff it in my purse. “Yes.”
We leave Mind+Body, Whitley in tow. She hasn't said a word to me since Noah walked in.
“Sorry about that.” I reach for her hand and squeeze.
“It’s okay.” She bumps my shoulder with her own. “We all have one.”
“One what?” We come to a stop at the corner. Whitley’s car is parked in the last space on the street, and Dayton and I are around the corner.
She and Dayton exchange a look as he grabs his mat strap and hoists it higher onto his back. The kind that saysCan she seriously not be aware of this?
“One that got away.” Whitley explains, waving goodbye and walking across the street to her car. Dayton and I keep going around the corner.
While we walk, I tell him about tonight. He looks at me with pity. “I’ll be by tomorrow at eleven, to pick up the pieces,” he says, then pecks me on the cheek and gets in his car.
I climb into my car and lean my head against the seat. Closing my eyes, I picture Noah’s lips saying my name, and the look on his face when he turned around and saw me standing there. I start the car and try to shake off the image of the tousled light brown hair, and the baby blue eyes. Seeing him just now was a gut punch right to the feels.
Tonight’s not looking like such a good idea after all.
20
Noah
“Did you see her?”
Brody takes the turn onto the road that will eventually lead us back to our parents’ house. These are the first words he’s spoken since I left Ember. Until now all he’s done is given me wary looks. His silence worked for me. I was reliving the moment I saw Ember again. Until three seconds ago, anyway.
“Yes.” My voice is calm. My insides are anything but. “She’s going to meet us tonight, after the rehearsal dinner. I know you don’t want to drink much and—”
“You think that’s a good idea?” The doubt in Brody’s tone tells me just what he thinks.
“Why wouldn't it be?” A defensive edge hardens my tone.
Brody sighs, shifting in his seat.
