“Ollie’s still not back, and Alicia’s gone.”
“What? No!”
“Yeah, last year was her final year. I thought you knew that,” I said, tilting my head up to face him.
Jake kept his eyes in front of him. “I knew it was her last year, but I was still hoping to catch her one last time,” his hand smacked his forehead, “Bollocks, I don’t even know her last name.”
“Bria’s here, though,” I added in a hurry, hoping it would lighten his spirits and nudged his arm with mine, “and Liam, and a really cute new guy.”
Jake’s brow spiked in the air. “New guy for me or you?”
“Ha! New guy, period. For no one,” I shook my head, “Just some eye-candy to keep your thoughts entertained.”
“Name?”
I took a tray from the buffet line. “You know, I don’t know his name. He’s quiet, doesn’t really talk to anyone.”
Jake’s baby blues scanned the mess hall on a mission. “Is he here now?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “No.”
“We should go to his dorm and introduce ourselves, offer an invitation to our ‘pity-party,’” he said with a slight mock in his tone, and flashes of the time Jake and Alicia had shown up at my door to introduce themselves came forth. I smiled to myself. It seemed like ages ago when I’d first arrived here but it had only been a year.
“You’re relentless.”
“Girl, and don’t you forget it.” He lifted his tray and followed my lead over to my table. Jake and I both greeted Zeke before Jake took a seat at the end. “Any news on Isaac or Oscar?”
Every time someone mentioned those names, my skin crawled. Oscar’s dark eyes, hands on my body, and taunting tone haunted me every chance they had. New Year’s Eve night still haunted me. Oscar, Ollie’s brother, was the very reason Ollie wasn’t here any longer.
“Lynch confirmed Oscar’s behind bars for good,” I fell back in my chair, “he got thirty years after linking him to other sex crimes.”
“And Isaac?” Jake asked with a mouthful.
“Five. Isaac wasn’t a repeat sex offender. Was only here because of drug addiction, or at least that was the little amount of information Lynch would give me.”
Jake nodded. “How’s Bria holding up?”
“Good. She should be here soon,” I said, looking over at the entrance for her. “We’ve grown pretty close over the last few months. Dr. Conway and Lynch approved for us to hold an open support group once a week for those who suffered sexual abuse.”
Jake’s eyes danced like a proud brother. “Look at you!”
“Yeah, I put it together and convinced Bria to do it with me. Use our experiences for good, you know? Plus, I needed something to keep my mind occupied … ” I trailed off as Ollie, once again, invaded me.
Jake dropped his fork and wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin before crumbling the paper up in his fist. The words sat on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to spit it out, but his eyes studied me for a moment before he finally stated, “You miss him.”
I exhaled. “You have no idea.”
Brief silence wrapped a noose around my neck, and I wondered if this was how the rest of my life would be—silently suffocating in the memory of him. I knew I would never find what Ollie and I shared again.“Embrace it, Mia. Every moment, no matter how long it lasts, it’s all worth it, yeah?”Ollie had once said.
Yeah, Ollie. It was allworth it.
“Sweet mother of Jesus,” Jake whispered, reeling me back to reality. “I forgot how fine Prince Harry over there was. His sweet ass is turning my bigger bollock blue,”—Jake leaned into me— “What’s his name again?”
Shaking my head, I pulled the fork from my mouth. “Ethan Scott.”
“That’s right.” Jake picked up his fork, but his eyes stayed on the security guard, opened mouthed and watering. “Never been into redheads, but I’ll gladly start a forest fire with that one.”
I laughed. An honest laugh.God, I missed Jake. “Good luck with that.”
