Page 30 of Old Habits

I unfold it and stare at the white space until I finally bring myself to read it.

Don’t wait for me.

It’s her handwriting. It’s a little sloppy but it’s hers.

I sit down and lean against the drawers. The metal handles dig into my back, keeping me from resting too comfortably but it’s not like that’s even possible right now.

She wanted me to know she was gone. Not only that, she wanted me to move on. She didn’t want me to sit around, pining for her, wondering where she went and whether or not she was safe but that’s exactly what I did.

If I had seen this back then, would it have been different?

Would I have gotten over her faster?

Would I have gone after her?

Fucking hell.

“Whatcha doing on the floor, honey?”

I look up at my mother standing in the doorway. She zips up her coat and slides a beanie hat over her thick, brown curls.

I fold the note and stuff it in my jacket pocket. “Nothing.”

She wanders in and sits on my old bed. “Is this about the Ross girl?”

I sigh. “That obvious, huh?”

“Are you seeing her again?”

“No.”

“Well, that’s not what I heard.”

I frown. “What have you heard?”

“That you two made quite the scene at Lucky’s bar last night,” she says, smiling.

“Who did you hear that from?”

“Sara.”

I scoff. “And where did she get that from?”

Mom pauses to think. “She said that Drew Warner’s fiancée told her that her roommate’s little sister was tending bar and caught a front row seat to the entire spat.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, that traveled fast.”

“William, nothing travels faster in this town than tales of you and Jovie Ross.” She smirks. “What’d you make a scene about?”

“We didn’t make a scene,” I say. “We just had a very… animated conversation.”

“About what?”

“I don’t know…” I rise off the floor. “How you been, Jove? Why’d you take off? What are you doing back? Where the hell have you been this whole time?”

“Did she answer any of those?”

“Not really, no.”

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