Page 114 of Waiting For Fate

“Sure, Leah. Whatever you need to tell yourself to feel better.” He gives me a look so condescending it makes me want to throw something at him. When he makes it to the doorway, Sawyer grabs my waist, moving into the classroom with me to move out of Jackson’s way.

“Just remember, she was mine first.” Jackson brushes past him and Sawyer stops him with the back of his hand.

“Oh, weasel. She was never yours.” Jackson frowns at Sawyer, then looks at me—possibly waiting for me to correct him—then nods.

“Good to know,” he mumbles, pinning me with the same distasteful stare as before.

“You know what, Jackson. Maybe it did have something to do with Sawyer, because if I’m being completely honest—which I always am—I felt more with him during one kiss than I did with you the entire time we were “dating”. But that still doesn’t change the fact that I would never be with someone who tried to have a relationship with me and keep our life completely separate from the one I have already established as well as the people in it. Nor does it give you the right to stand here and disrespect me just because we weren’t compatible, and your feelings are hurt over it.” His face goes completely red, and he scoffs his final goodbye.

“Have a nice life.”

I almost feel bad, until I remember how truly awful he is as a person.

Yeah, I don’t feel bad at all actually.

“I don’t like that you see that guy every day,” Sawyer growls.

“Me either,” I sigh, letting go of some of the pent-up aggression towards him. Then I smile as I turn my attention completely back to Sawyer. “So, you really just wanted to bring me flowers?”

“Well, not entirely...”

When I finally got back to the group text after Sawyer stopped by, we managed to throw together the world’s most last-minute girls night that even Lyssa was available to make on such short notice—which just felt like a miracle.

We’re all sitting around the island at Lauren’s house with take-out containers covering every inch of the counter as I finish telling them about Sawyer’s visit at school today.

“Oh my gosh, he asked you to go with him?!” Shane squeals.

Sawyer ended up asking me to go to his away games with him this week since he knew I’d be out of school, and I think that might just be the most romantic thing ever.

“Yessss. They’re playing in Minnesota, and he said he really wanted to take me somewhere special while we’re there.”

“That is so romantic, I can’t wait to hear all about it.” Lyssa squeezes my hand before taking another sip of her margarita. “Holy shit, Leah. You weren’t lying, this is the best margarita I’ve ever had.” Shane takes a very humble bow, and we all start to laugh.

“I don’t know how you’re not drinking one yourself.” Lyssa adds, pointing to Shane. I frown when I realize she’s right. Shane hasn’t poured herself one yet and the pitcher is almost empty.

“I was wondering how long it would take someone to notice.” We all look like meerkats when we realize.

“Are you pregnant?!” Taylor screams. Then Shane pulls an ultrasound out of her back pocket.

“OH MY GOD!” We all begin screaming and sobbing in unison.

“Congratulations!” Lyssa tells her, joining our little group hug.

“Thank you, welcome to girls’ night,” Shane laughs.

“They’re pretty much all like this,” Lauren says. “Dramatic, I mean. Not someone being pregnant at every one of them. That would be insane.” She waves one hand around as she explains, wiping the tears from her eyes with the other.

“Let’s not wait to have girls’ night for so long anymore. We clearly missed more than Shane let on,” Ruby says in an accusatory tone.

“Well, I wasn’t going to let it slip in a text. I needed to hear the joyful screams.” We all break from the group hug.

“Are you guys waiting to find out what you’re having again?” Lauren asks, as we all use napkins to dab our tears away.

“Yep! Just like with Cece.” She slides the ultrasound onto the counter, leaving it there for us to look at while we keep chatting.

“When do you guys leave, Leah?”

“Tomorrow, actually. I’m supposed to stop by my parents’ house tonight to see them before I go. I feel like I haven’t seen them in years,” I groan. I’ve missed them more than I could ever accurately describe.

---