The President’s sister.
Rejection after rejection after rejection.
Eventually, he stopped answering my calls…that’s when I stopped sleeping.
And still… when I first saw him again after Sammy brought me back to live with Bubby, I made this dress with the stupid thought that maybe…finally…he would give me a chance.
I wanted this to be the dress I wore on our first date.
Sighing, I shove the heartbreak back down and force myself to focus on the moment. I may not be wearing this dress for the reason I hoped, but I think I need to wear it anyway. My very first date with a man.
Even if nothing comes of it, maybe wearing this will help my stupid heart remember the truth:
Tank doesn’t want me.
So, I need to stop being so desperate. I need to stop being pathetic.
“Oh, Eli,” I sigh, trying not to cry. “Itisme.”
“Exactly,” he smiles. “And if this guy doesn’t fall head over heels the second he sees you in this dress? He’s blind, and we shall mock him accordingly.”
I laugh, and some of the ache loosens in my chest. Eli’s good at that…knowing when I need to be pulled from my own thoughts.
“Yeah,” I whisper to myself. “This one. I’ll wear this one.”
Skip is waiting by the car when Eli and I leave my house. I was nervous about going on this date, so I asked Eli to tag along. Skip will be there too, of course. Eli’s been through a lot, and Skip won’t let him go anywhere without him.
I don’t mind, though.
“You look beautiful, Abby,” Skip says warmly. “I’ll be far enough away not to be seen, but close enough that I’ll be on you in seconds if anything feels off.”
“Thank you,” I smile. “But I’m keeping Eli next to me.”
“Understood,” Skip laughs.
The front door of a nearby house slams open.
“What the fuck is going on?” Tank growls as he steps out.
I freeze, taking a few slow breaths to calm my racing heart.
“I’m ready,” I say, doing everything I can not to look back at Tank.
“I asked you a question, Abigail,” he snaps, marching up to the car. “Where. Are. You. Going?”
Sighing, I turn and lift my chin as bravely as I can.
“I’m going on a date,” I say confidently. At least, I think I do. My legs are about to give out. Not because I’m afraid, but because this is it. This is me finally accepting the fact that there will never be a Tank and Abby.
“Spike knows,” I continue. “And Eli and Skip are tagging along.”
Tank’s jaw flexes. His eyes nearly turn black.
“You’re… what?” His voice dips dangerously.
“A date,” I repeat, trying my best not to cry. I look up into his eyes, and I feel the piece of my heart that belongs to him tear loose and float into his chest. I just hope there’s enough left to give to someone else. “Goodbye, Tank.”
I slide into the backseat before the tears fall.
