Page 6 of The Lucky One

She pulled her hand away. “Jon’s coming back this weekend.”

I clenched my jaw at the reminder. I got it: she chose him over me. I couldn’t understand it, but I got it. Still, after everything, she was making me feel like a fucking idiot.

I jerked to my feet and grabbed my plate. “I wanted to talk to you as a friend. But if you can’t do that for me... fine.”

It was exhausting, always being the one to make an effort.

Running. I needed to go running.

“Paul... I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please, you gotta believe me.”

“Then why did you? Why did you throw away everything we had for someone who’s going to break your heart anyway?” My voice faltered.

She looked down, her lip quivering. I waited. But she remained quiet.

“He’s going to break your heart, you know that. Right?” She couldn’t possibly believe that Jon would go to Germany or do anything close to what I would’ve done for her.

All she did was stare at the flickering candle. I was definitely joining Mom’s freak-out on Zack for stealing the light bulb.

I let out a snort. “Well, don’t come to me when he does. I’m done.”

The words tasted bitter on my tongue, like someone had etched them there with a knife. I stalked into the kitchen and shoved the Currywurst in the trash, together with my hopes that Emily and I could ever become lovers again... or even friends.

New Rules, Old Companions

Emily

Eleven years ago...

“Look, Mama! Look at the picture I made!”

I showed Mama the drawing I did of her, my brother Lucas, our dog Pitus and Papa with his big belly.

Mama admired it. “Oh, Emi, this is wonderful!”

I proudly pointed to the different parts of the picture. “I have my doll, Lucas has a race car, you have your apron, and Papa has a bottle. I gave us all our favorites!”

Mama gasped and covered her mouth. Uh-oh. “Did I do something wrong, Mama?”

“No, lovely, nothing. It’s a wonderful picture.”

“I’ll show Papa!” I ran out of the kitchen to Papa’s office but Mama told me to wait. Oopsie, too late! I knocked on the door and barged in. “Papa, look! I drew a picture for the fridge!”

Papa glanced at it and looked back at his computer. “Okay, put it on the pile of papers, I’ll have a look later,” he growled like a bear. I giggled but then coughed. The smoke of his cigarette hurt in my belly.

“Okay.” I put my picture on the pile. I made sure it was straight so Papa wouldn’t miss it.

“Come here, lovely,” Mama said, calling me back to the hallway for a hug.

I asked if Papa would look at the picture and she said, “I’m sure he’ll love it,” but she sounded sad. I didn’t know why. Then Mama said she was going to make Currywurst and I nodded excitedly.

Back in the kitchen, Pitus licked my face, and Lucas was playing basketball outside. He said I was too little to play with him, but one day I wouldn’t be.

A year later, I went into Papa’s office and found my drawing in the same pile, hidden under lots of new papers. When I asked Lucas if I could play basketball with him, he said I was still too little, but he lifted me up on his shoulders so I could reach the basket. He was the best brother ever.

Now...

I tapped my foot against the asphalt, checking my phone for the third time in the last minute. Officially twenty-four hours until I’d see Jon again. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

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