Page 10 of Hate You Forever

SIX

Memphis

It’s been a week since the night I met Jade at the bar. Since then, I’ve made sure to do all the runs to town to pick up parts and food for the garage. I’ve also gone back to The Place every night, hoping to see her again, but I haven’t seen her anywhere. It’s like she’s not only avoiding me now, she’s avoiding the whole town. I can’t stand it any longer. I have to see her. I have to talk to her. I don’t know how I managed to stay away from her as long as I did, but now that I know she’s close, the pull she has on me has only gotten stronger.

On my lunch break, I leave the shop and head into town. I know my mom said that she’s working at the local vet’s office. If that’s the only place I can see her, that’s where I’ll go. I swing by the bakery, Bean andBun, and grab her favorite blueberry muffin and coffee before driving over to the vet’s office.

She’s behind the desk when I walk in. She looks up from her paperwork with a smile, but then she sees that it’s me, and her smile falls as her eyes squint in my direction.

I hold up the muffin and coffee. “I’m not here to fight. I even brought a peace offering,” I say, placing the coffee and muffin down on the counter in front of her.

She frowns but picks it up and takes a sip. “What’s up?”

“Have you had enough time to think over what we talked about?”

She nods and takes a deep breath. “I don’t know if I can do it, Memphis. I mean, I agree that this town is too small to ignore one another, but you broke my heart and stole my trust. I don’t see how I can get over that.”

I hang my head and look at her from beneath my lashes, sticking out my bottom lip in a pout. This always got her.

She lets out a giggle and shakes her head. “Don’t do that to me.”

“Come on, Jade. Remember all the good times we had? Remember how much fun we had, how muchwe laughed?”

She rolls her eyes. “Fine, whatever. We can be friends. Happy now?”

My smile breaks free. “Yes, I am. Friends get drinks. Tonight? The Place?” I point at her as I’m backing toward the door.

“No, no drinks,” she argues.

“Six o’clock work for you?”

“What? No!”

“Alright, see ya there. Don’t stand me up. You know how I hate that.” I walk out the door. She doesn’t come chasing me out, so I take that as a good sign as I climb behind the wheel and drive away as quickly as possible.

Six o’clock rolls around,and I’m sitting at a pub table all alone with my bottle of beer. I look at my watch and see that it’s already going on six-thirty. She isn’t going to show. I wave down the waitress and order a double Jack on the rocks, and she walks away to get it. I lean back in my chair, annoyed that my stupid little plan to get Jade back isn’t working. Of course it isn’t working. She’s too smart to fall for all my old tricks a second time. I was lucky that I got her once. Twice, that’s just unheard of.

“Well, you got me here,” she says, sitting across from me and making me jump.

Surprise takes over my expression, and my mouth drops open. “I…I can’t believe that you showed up,” I say, shaking my head.

“Me neither. This better be worth it.”

The waitress comes and sets my glass down, and Jade reaches out and takes it.

“Aw, you even ordered me a drink? Thanks,friend.”

I don’t miss the sarcasm, but I don’t ask about it either. I nod. “No problem.” I sit up straight and take a swig of beer. “So, tell me about this boyfriend of yours.”

She cocks her head to the side and scoffs. “So, you’re going to make fun of me for it too?”

I show her my palms. “I swear, I’m not. I was just asking. How’d you meet? Where’s he from?”

She takes a sip of her whiskey and lets out a long breath. “His name is Paul. We met on a dating website but ended up taking things off the app and to messenger. He’s really nice and sweet. Since we’ve been talking, I haven’t felt so alone, and I’ve felt alone since…” she looks up at me, and it’s like she suddenly remembers who she’s talking to, “well, since you.” She motions toward me.

I hang my head as shame pumps through me. “I really am sorry, Jade. I just?—”

“There’s no excusing what you did, Memphis. I didn’t come here for another apology. Let’s just drop it, okay?”

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