Page 62 of Blade

No. I no longer had a home.

“We’re here. Let’s go do some damage on my old man’s credit card. That’ll teach him not to mouth off about me.” She laughed as she climbed out of the car.

I followed, but my mind wasn’t on shopping.

Rachel and I spent several hours at the mall, then traveled back to Diamond Creek for lunch. We could haveeaten at the food court, but Rachel insisted I needed to try the sandwiches at The Coffee Shop.

Yup, that’s the official name. Seriously, this town had no creativity.

We ordered coffees and sandwiches and grabbed a table by the window. When I noticed her staring intently at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Spill.”

“Spill what?”

Rachel just stared at me. I knew what she was asking. She knew Blade brought me home, and I hadn’t told her about it. We had been friends long enough that she knew I was holding something back. She always knew when I had a secret.

Twelve years ago

“I know you’re keeping something from me,” Rachel challenged.

“What?” I asked innocently.

Of course she knew, she always did.

“You may as well tell me. You know I’ll get it out of you,” she insisted.

She would too. Rachel was the queen of silent interrogation. She would make a great mom one day. All she had to do was look at you and wait.

It compelled you to tell her everything.

And I did.

Almost always.

Sighing, I gave in. “He kissed me.”

“WHAT?” Rachel all but jumped out of her seat.

“Will you hush! I don’t need the entire shop listening to our conversation.”

Brushing some imaginary crumbs from my lap, I tried to stall. I hadn’t completely come to terms with what happened myself.

If I didn’t understand, how could I explain it to someone else?

“Tell me everything. Starting with when he got there to pick you up.” Rachel leaned forward, her elbows on the table, hands holding her chin.

She looked ridiculous, and I chuckled.

“Well, at first, it shocked me. I was expecting Jack. When I stepped out into the light, he looked at me, then down at his bike. He just sat there for a minute. I would give anything to know what he was thinking at that moment. Of course, in my head he was sayingI told you so.”

I shrugged, not wanting to admit that was what was going through my mind when I saw him.

“When he finally got off the bike. He walked over to me. I was so embarrassed I put my head down, looking at the ground. He gently used one finger and lifted my face. He said nothing and then walked away to grab his phone.”

Looking out the window, I remembered how I felt when he walked away, like I had lost him. But that was impossible because he was never mine to lose.

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