Page 21 of Only Forever

“Why not?” I asked, taking a sip of wine the waiter had brought over. I felt very grown up being at dinner with Jason,especially since I had only recently turned twenty-one, and it felt novel ordering wine with dinner.

“We didn’t part on the best of terms,” Jason answered, studying me. “I got the feeling you never wanted to see me again.”

“That was so long ago,” I said. “I admit my ego was bruised. I was embarrassed to see you after everything Marcus had told me.”

Jason frowned. “Why would you be embarrassed? There was nothing to be embarrassed about. If anyone should have been embarrassed, it should have been me.”

I gave him a quizzical look. “Why wouldyoube embarrassed?” Then it dawned on me. “Oh, because of what you said about me?” I waved my hand in dismissal. “I know you didn’t say it the way Marcus told me. You’re not that kind of person.”

Jason drew his eyebrows in sharply. “What are you talking about?”

“Marcus told me that you liked me, even though I was poor.” I started speaking quicker when I saw the thunderous look on Jason’s face. I didn’t want him getting upset about the past. “Like I said, I know you didn’t mean it in a bad way. And you were right. We were in different financial positions.”

“Daphne, what the hell are you talking about?” Jason looked angry. “I never said anything like that to Marcus. The only thing I told him was that I was interested in you, and was hoping that after I came back from California we would start dating.”

I looked at him, confused. “Why would he say that then?”

Jason’s hands on the table tightened into fists. I could feel the anger emanating from him. “I found out too late that Marcus was a snake. His younger brother, Connor, is in the same grade as Eric and they used to be friends. Last year, Eric overheard Marcus saying some messed up shit about me to Connor. I thinkMarcus was resentful of me and the money my parents have. He basically said he was only friends with me for what I could give him, and that he wished I would experience losing everything. When I confronted him, he could only put up the act for so long, and finally told me he despised me and I didn’t deserve my life.” Jason took a deep breath. “I couldn’t believe it. Marcus was my best friend since middle school. I considered him to be like a brother.” Jason expression soured. “And all that time, he resented me. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he lied to you to sabotage me.”

I was shocked by Jason’s revelation. Even though I had never known Marcus well, I couldn’t believe his hateful feelings towards Jason. When I had talked to him on that fateful day at the mall, he had spoken about Jason almost reverently. I couldn’t believe it had all been an act.

“Did he say anything else to you?” Jason asked, looking troubled.

“Well,” I said, hesitantly. I had never said anything to my mother about taking money from Jason’s family. I had pushed it to the back of my mind, telling myself whatever she took, it was because she needed it. Now I desperately wanted to ask Jason if it was true, but I didn’t want to upset him more by finding out even more lies Marcus may have told. I bit my lip, unsure if I should say anything.

“Tell me,” Jason said. “I can see you want to say something.”

I sighed. It would be best just to get everything out in the open. “He told me that my mom was taking money from your parents regularly.”

When Jason didn’t answer right away, my heart sunk. So maybe that was true. I told myself it didn’t matter. I trusted my mother that she had only done what was necessary to survive.

“I only know this because I overheard my parents talking about it, and I demanded they tell me. Your mom borrowedmoney right around when your dad first left, because she was struggling to pay the mortgage.” Jason expression looked concerned as he told me. “But it was only that one time, and she paid it back within a few months. With interest. My parents argued with her, but your mom said she refused to borrow any money without paying back with interest.”

I didn’t realize I had been holding my breath until I let it out. That sounded right. It sounded like my mom. I frowned. “But how did Marcus know anything about that?”

Jason shook his head. “I don’t know. But he spent so much time at my house, I’m sure he found out one way or another.” Jason pushed his hair back in frustration. “I can’’t believe he said all that shit to you.” He stilled, looking into my eyes. “Is that why you pushed me away? Why you decided you wanted nothing between us?”

I bit my lip, nodding. “I know it sounds dumb, but it made me feel insecure. And I didn’t want you to be with me out of pity.”

“Fuck, Daphne,” Jason expelled in anger. “Pity was the last thing I felt for you. If anything, I was hoping you would think I was good enough for you.” Jason’s mouth thinned in bitterness. “To think, if only that asshole hadn’t lied to you, things could be different.”

My heart sank when I realized how stupid I had been. I should have just asked Jason straight out if he had said those things, instead of being insecure and just believing everything Marcus had told me.

“I’m sorry I believed Marcus,” I said, my voice regretful. “It was so stupid of me. I should have told you what he said and asked you if it was true.”

Jason shook his head. “You had no reason to think he would lie to you. Hell, he was my best friend. I thought I knew him so well, yet he had me fooled.” Jason sighed heavily. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“It’s in the past,” I said, reaching over to put one of my hands on his, trying to comfort him. I couldn’t imagine the betrayal he felt finding out his closest friend secretly hated him, and was actively doing things to sabotage his life. “Let’s not think about it.”

Jason looked down at my hand on his, and then raised his gaze to mine, his eyes piercing. “If Marcus hadn’t lied to you, would your answer have been different back then?”

I gave him a small smile, feeling a pang of regret. “Yes, it would have been different. I basically fell head over heels for you our senior year. I was worried that being far apart during college would be hard, but I had been willing to try. I’m just sorry that I let Marcus get in the way.”

Jason turned the hand that was under mine over so our palms were together. My pulse began to race when he intertwined his fingers with mine.

“We’re not far apart now,” he said quietly.

The waiter chose this inopportune moment to appear with our food. I quickly drew my hand away so he could place our plates on the table. I felt flushed and clumsy, and I didn’t know what to say or do, so I just dug into my food with gusto. Jason looked at me consideringly for a few moments, before starting in on his own food. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed when he changed the topic to people we knew in high school and what they were doing now.

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