I’d like to explode, but I’m trying not to be so emotional as my mother likes to point out. So instead, I calmly say, “Please, just tell me what I owe you and leave.” Throwing a hand in the air, I add, “Forget I was even here.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He stands from the stool, dropping the keys to the counter. “It’s on me.”
As he swaggers toward the door, I try to keep my eyes on anything but him. Shouldn’t there be a rule against looking like that after you break someone’s heart? Shouldn’t you inevitably get uglier just on principle?
He grips the doorknob, turning over his shoulder. “I’m sorry about Gran.”
I nod as my already cracked heart throbs.
Then he leaves.
And I stand in the middle of the living room staring at the front door, feeling like someone’s sucked all the air from the room.
8
GABE
MAY PRESENT DAY
Ibarrel out of Gran’s house with my fists clenched at my sides, stomping off the porch before jumping in JT’s truck. I texted him to pick me up when I got here.
He smirks.
“What?” I bark.
“Nope, I know better than to say anything to you with that look on your face.” He starts the truck.
“And what look is that?”
“The one that says you’re gonna rip my head off if I say the wrong thing.”
“I’m fine, just get back to the garage. I have shit to do.” I turn up the radio before staring out the window.
But he’s not wrong. I’m pissed. Why am I pissed? Fuck if I know. Like I give a shit what she does.
Except I knew the moment she opened the door in those goddamned pajamas that I was fucked. How was I supposed to act like I had any damn sense with her looking like that. She needs to go.
I don’t know what I expected charging over there, but itwasn’t that. She looks just like she did six years ago—maybe better. Hell, her gray eyes were even swollen and red just like they were the last time I saw her. When she opened the door tonight, her blonde curls were pulled up, leaving more of her fair skin on display than I of all people should have been seeing.
The night sky passes by my window to the sound of my teeth grinding all the way back to the shop.
Shane’s pacing in the parking lot when we pull up. I take it they were hoping I wouldn’t know she was here, but I don’t give a shit. Like he has the right to be mad at anyone after everything he’s done the last couple years.
“What the hell did you do?” he yells, charging toward the truck. His jaw tics, and for just a moment I think he might hit me as he balls his fists at his sides.
I walk right past him, brushing his shoulder on the way and not bothering to respond. I’m not doing this.
“Hey!” He grabs me by the shirt, pulling me back to face him.
I shove him off. “What?”
“Where have you been?” he growls.
“Where do you think I’ve been, Shane? Cut the shit.”
“Why would you go over there? Haven’t you messed with her enough?” His eyes darken. Shane’s my best friend, but this is where things get muddy because he’s her brother first.
“If you didn’t want me to know, you shouldn’t have left her keys on the desk.”
