“By dumping my entire family and holing up in your mother’s house, not willing to talk to anyone?”
“It’s not like that. I have my reasons for staying in the house. This is my first real venture outside.
“I need to get away for a little while. I need out of my head,” I say.
“Okay, so where are we going?”
“Wait, what are you doing here? I thought you planned to take summer classes.”
“Nope. I hate it there without you guys. I dropped out. I’m thinking this college thing might not be for me. Garret had a great idea. I might travel for a bit.”
“Really?”
“Yup. Mom is warming up to the idea. She wasn’t as pissed as I thought she would be when I told her I dropped out. Actually, it seemed like she was waiting for me to.”
“I’m heading to get something to eat. Maybe a burger and fries and a milkshake.”
She gasps. “Oh, you dirty brat. You were going to go to our spot without me.”
I snicker. “I was going to think about you while there. You would have been in my heart.”
“You look good, Zah. I saw you walking and shit. Have you spoken to Bent?” she asks as we climb into my car.
I take a deep breath and shake my head. I knew this was coming. Today of all days, I don’t want to talk about this.
“I figured. He’s still a mess about you two. He misses you.”
“He hasn’t called me either,” I mutter.
“He’s trying to give you space. He knows he fucked up. Listen, babe. All of us are still fucked up. This is all still so fresh.
“Above Baker and Garret, Dad was Bentley’s best friend. I think he’s a little lost for wise counsel. Especially when it comes to you.
“Add to that being a rookie QB while the world is watching and waiting for him to fall apart. I remember what you told mebefore you broke up with him and how you felt. I’m not saying to ignore that. I’m saying this is Bentley, at least reach out so he knows he didn’t fuck this up as badly as he thinks he has,” she pleads.
“Can we talk about something else?”
“Sure, I want you to come travel with me.”
***
An hourlater and my head is still buzzing from Erica’s words.I want you to come travel with me.I came back home to be close to my mom.
I don’t know that I want to go running off when she needs me. However, I still haven’t figured things out. Traveling the world has a nice ring to it.
My father left me a nice trust fund that would allow me to go without having to worry about my finances. I had been looking at a few online courses that would allow me to finish my degree.
Maybe some time out of the country will allow me to heal instead of sitting in a house full of haunting memories.
“Hey, I didn’t know you two were back in town. How’s it going?” Gilbert Manning comes over to our table and breaks into my thoughts.
Erica and I had fallen silent for the millionth time since we’ve been sitting here eating and having milkshakes. I think we’ve both been getting lost in our thoughts and memories. There are so many here.
“Hey, Gilbert,” we say in unison.
“I was just about to get a bite to eat. You ladies mind if I join you?”
“Have a seat. You’re the first person who hasn’t looked at us with pity in their eyes. Of course you’re welcome,” Erica says.
