Page 52 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I won’t lie, I’m annoyed by how out of touch he is. Maybe that makes me a hypocrite. Especially considering that I used to be a tone-deaf, rich kid myself.

While my parents didn’t take me on trips every year, I did grow up in a mansion with a pool and a guest house out back.

The hostess comes to tell us that a table is available and to follow her a few minutes later. My stomach churns at the realization that the only booth available is near the bar. As in, five feet away from it.

And to my absolute horror… TJ is standing behind the counter.

He looks unbelievable, to make matters worse, wearing his work pants and a black button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves and the first two buttons undone.

We make eye contact for a split second, and I immediately look away, acting as though I didn’t see him.

“Weird,” Aaron comments when he notices TJ. “I thought Chance was working the bar tonight.”

Just my luck.

He shrugs. “He probably asked TJ to cover his shift. He’s still a mess over Beth.”

He cheated on her, and nowhe’sthe one playing the victim? Unbelievable.

I can feel TJ’s gaze shadowing my every move as I slide into the booth across from Aaron.

“I hear they have amazing food here,” Aaron says.

“They do. My stepdad and I come here all the time.”

Aaron’s eyes light up with interest. “Your stepdad, are you close with him? Is he present in your life?”

“Yeah, very close. He’s like a second father to me. He’s been in my life since I was seven. But he hasn’t been around as often as he’d like because of my mom. She’s a bit controlling.”

The conversation shifts to our parents and how their decisions in life affect us more than we realize. For example, if my dad hadn’t left my mom after I was born, Oli and Sierra wouldn’t exist.

I remember thinking Aaron was self-centered on our first date, which is why I’m surprised when he takes an interest in my relationship with my mom.

“You must have a lot of resentment toward her. It can’t be easy, being left to fend for yourself at eighteen.”

“I used to. For a long time. But I’ve had to resign myself to the fact that she can’t love me more than she hates my dad. That’s just not how her brain works. It’s like she thinks that by helping me take care of his kids, she’d be helpinghim. Doing him a favor after what he did to her. Even now that he’s dead, she can’t forgive him.”

“Maybe one day, she’ll realize that she’s ruining her relationship with her daughter by punishing a ghost.” His comment pulls at my heartstrings.

Our relationship was ruined long before I decided to take care of Oliver and Sierra—my mom’s always been cold, distant, and the kind of woman who thinks money can replace love. The difference is, before the accident, I still had hope that one day, we’d patch things up.

Now, I know we’re destined to become estranged.

My phone pings with a text just as the waiter is pouring us water. I pretend not to hear it to be polite, but three more messages come through in a matter of minutes, and I regret not muting the damn thing.

“You might want to check that. Just in case it’s important,” Aaron suggests.

“Right,” I say and reach for my phone.

I have four new messages.

From TJ.

TJ

Are you serious? You’re not even going to look at me?

TJ

---