Page 2 of Shattered

But I never did.

I wasn’t ready to listen to what he had to say.Mainly because I didn’t want to hear what I’d been thinking all along was the truth.

No.If I kept avoiding him, then there was a small chance he had a good explanation.What that was, I had no idea.

So I made sure to ignore any and all calls.

~2~

Sara

Stepping from the bathroom, I ran straight into Alexa coming down the hallway.I’d been crying.Again.She knew it as soon as she laid eyes onmy red, blotchy face.Trying to act as if nothing was wrong, I faintly smiled and continued on toward my room.

“Do you want to talk about it, Sara?” she asked as she followed behind me.I loved my best friend, but no amount of talking was going to heal me.I just needed to sleep.It was my new favorite escape.

“If you don’t mind, I just want to go to bed.Maybe another time.”

“You have to talk about it sometime, you know.You can’t hole up here in your bedroom for the rest of your life.”She sat on the edge of my mattress, her hand patting my leg in comfort.

“I know.Really, I do.”I stared straight ahead.“I need more time.”

“Well, I’ll give you twenty-four more hours to put your head on straight,” she said, her stern voice indicating how serious she was.

She caught my attention.“What do you mean?” I asked, shifting in uneasiness.

“Tomorrow night.You.Me.Girls’ night.We’re going out for a drink, and I won’t take no for an answer.”She stood and made to leave.

“Lex, please.I can’t.Not yet.”I didn’t want to do it, but I had no more control.Tears broke free and coated my cheeks before I could even think to stop them.

“See?This is exactly why you fucking need to go out.Can’t you see that?”Why is she yelling at me?“Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Sara.Get up, dust yourself off and move on with your life.”

No one could say Alexa Bearnheart wasn’t a great friend, but damn.Did she have to go all tough love on my ass?

“Fine,” I mumbled, a small smile finding its way onto my otherwise sad face.I loved feisty Alexa, even if I was her latest victim.

“Yay!” she cheered, dancing her way out of my room.

For the love.What did I just agree to?

~~~~

For as busy as the shop was, the clock didn’t seem to move.The stale moments of time were laughing at me, baiting me with their callous disregard for my need to end the day.

Alexa and I had agreed to meet at a neighborhood bar after I closed up for the evening.I was trying my best to remain positive, knowing full well I deserved a small reprieve from my tortured heart, even if that pardon came in the form of alcohol.

Hell, my best friend deserved it for putting up with me the past month, all mopey and moody.

I arrived at precisely six o’clock and stood outside to wait for her, trying my best to tamp down the incessant need to run home and jump under the covers.

Nervously shifting from one foot to the other, I counted the minutes until my best friend arrived.She was usually on time, so I expected her to pull up any second.But after more time passed of no Alexa, I grabbed my phone, preparing to call and find out what was holding her up.As I was about to connect the call, I had an uneasy feeling someone was standing behind me.

A little too close for comfort.

The hairs on the back of my neck bristled, my body suddenly becoming warm even though the night’s chilly air did its best to bind me in a cool embrace.

Without turning around, I knew exactly who it was.

No amount of time could erase the effect he had on me when he was near.

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