“Officer Jake Thompson.” Amanda, the girl I dated back in high school, slings her arm around my waist and pulls me toward her. “I can’t believe you’re back in town.”
I cringe as memories of the last time she asked me to hook up flood my memory. But the thoughts aren’t of her. They’re of Emily choosing Spencer over me.
“Hello, Amanda.”
She rests her head on my chest and bats her eyelashes while looking up at me. “It’s always so boring around here without you.” Her bottom lip pokes out as Emily’s eyes dart over us and then away just as quickly as they landed on us. “Why haven’t you looked me up yet?”
I should’ve dumped her before I learned she was cheating. Back when she insulted Emily over what she wore to my graduation party.Emily looked stunning even though her dress wasn’t skintight.She didn’t need to show her tits and ass to outshine everyone else.
Not long after that, I caught Amanda cheating on me with the bank owner’s son. That one didn’t last either. Turns outthere were others she’d been seeing behind my back even longer. Loyalty and commitment have never really been Amanda’s thing.
From what I heard, the weekend she wanted to hook back up with me over the Christmas holiday, she was dating someone else. Thankfully, I didn’t give her the time of day.
I want someone with integrity. Someone who’s kind. Loving. Someone like Emily. No. Not someone like Emily. I want Emily.
“I’ve been busy.” I step out of her grip, which causes her bottom lip to poke out even farther. She’s not five years old, but at any second, I expect to see her stomp her foot because she’s not getting her way.
“Too busy to take me out? You know I’ve always shown you a good time. You remember how good we were together back in high school, right?”
“Now’s not the time for this conversation.” I’d prefer to never have this conversation.
“Jake.” Emily’s voice is sharp as her eyes meet mine. “I’m going to grab my purse from your car. Thanks for the ride over.”
“Ugh….,” Amanda groans. “You again? You’re such a baby. Always following Jake around like a lovesick puppy. You should be embarrassed.”
“Amanda,” I growl, causing her to jump. “That’s enough.” I step toward Emily, who raises her hands as if to ward me off.
“Go on. I’ll get a ride home with Kaleb.”
“I–”
“Again, thanks for the ride. I’ve got it from here.” She spins on her heel and is gone before I get another word out.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Emily
“Let the boring little mouse go,” Amanda’s catty voice calls from behind me.
My shoes hit the pavement so hard that I’m unable to hear any more words coming from her mouth. Not that I want to hear them anyway. Seeing Amanda again reminds me of going to Jake’s graduation party and her cruel words.
When I stepped out of the bathroom at the community center, Amanda’s eyes met mine. Jake was too busy talking to my brother and their friends to notice her look of distaste.
They’d managed to have four graduation parties between them until their faces were green from too much cake and punch.
She leaned closer to her friend so that Jake’s family didn’t hear. “She’s pathetic. What would any guy see in a virginal mouse like her? She always dresses like a boy. She doesn’t wear makeup.”
“Amanda.” Her friend’s voice cracked as she caught me looking.
“Please.” Amanda waved her hand dismissively. “No one cares what Little Miss Tomboy thinks. Especially not Jake. She probably has no idea how to go down on a man like I can.” She smirks and winks. “The way Jake loves it. He’s always laughing about her pathetic attempts to get his attention.”
I’m the one who’s going to be sick. I swallowed hard over the lump in my throat as heat seared my skin. Jake glanced at me, frowned, and took a step toward Amanda.
“And that dress? Only a loser would think it was appropriate to wear that….” She waved her hand in my direction. “To a graduation party.”
I turned on my heel, went back into the bathroom, and forced myself not to cry. It didn’t work. Tears had streamed down my face until my brother banged on the door and told me it was time to go to another party.
Fucking bitch.
