Page 16 of Hazel and Elijah Find Out: First They F*cked Around

Her blink was a bit too long. “No, it was my choice. I could have gone home. It was nice to see you.”

Nice. I cringed inwardly at the word.

“It was,” I half-heartedly agreed.

“I wish I could think straight right now. It feels like my brain is underwater, like, sluggish.”

“It’s okay, you know how to get a hold of me.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

She slipped out of my passenger seat and into her car.

I drove behind her into a little neighborhood near the elementary school until she pulled into the driveway of a cute house. There was a porch swing lit by the front door and pots of fall-colored flowers. I parked at the curb, waiting for her to get inside. She waved before closing the door behind her.

There was already so much stacked against us. How likely would it be that we would connect enough in a few short weeks that we’d be able to carry a long distance relationship? Ending before we began would be better in the long run.

“It’s okay,” I said to my empty car. “Not everything works out.”

But it didn’t feel okay. It felt fucking terrible.

Chapter 6

Elijah

“Youlooknice,Mom.Where’re you off to?” I looked down at my sweats and wrinkled T-shirt.

“The Briars invited me over for dinner. I thought I told you about it? I’m gonna use your car, remember? You gonna go out tonigh—” She turned away from the mirror, putting the cap back on her lipstick. Narrowing her eyes, she took in my disheveled appearance. “Son, what’s going on? The past couple of days you’ve been… not yourself.”

Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I leaned against the bathroom doorjamb. Our cottage was better than the one I’d stayed in last year, even if the decor was heavy on biblical cross-stitch and doilies. It also had a distinct Pine-Sol scent.

I shrugged. “That hangover a couple of nights ago was rough, just getting my energy back.”

It was mostly true. I had walked to the beach and got very drunk after ensuring Hazel got home. Falling asleep on the blanket I’d laid out on the sand hadn’t been advised—waking up with a headache, a sore neck, and cold. Really cold. Late September nights did not hold their heat along Lake Michigan.

“Okay.” Mom zipped her makeup case. “You should go out tonight. Find your friends.”

“I think I’ll just stay in.” I backed up, giving her room to exit into the hallway. “You’ve been busy lately. Having a good time?”

“Honestly, it’s surprising how healing being here has been. Ginny even apologized for not coming to my defense all those years ago.”

“That’s great, Mom.”

“I’m really glad we came back.”

“Me, too.” If only for her to find this closure.

“All right, I’m heading out.”

“Have fun.”

“I will.” She put on her pink beaded sandals and opened the door. “Don’t wait up.”

She closed the door, leaving me surrounded by sky-blue-painted walls and white Jesus.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table. Striding into the living room, I found a text from Sterling,Heading to Benji’s, you wanna come?

---