Page 17 of Between Here and There

I switch off my phone’s airplane mode, and the notifications come flooding in: a Facebook reminder that I have an event in five days–Bonita and Ryan’s Nuptials, a few Instagram notifications, and four messages—one from my mom, one from Bon asking if I was able to contact Joshua, one from a service provider welcoming me to the Philippines, and one from an unknown number.

I reply to my mom and Bon, telling them I’m on the way. Then, I check the other message from the unknown number. The preview is already making my heart do a weird somersault and making me nauseous, so I open the entire text.

UNKNOWN

Great. Just what I need—a reminder of what’s waiting for me at Magnolia Heights. Ugh. I try to compose myself and reply.

EMILY (ME)

ROB

EMILY (ME)

ROB

I stare at my phone, awestruck. He really has reached a whole new level of assholery.

The guy who broke my heart is bringing a date to the wedding I promised myself I’d enjoy for my best friend. The day I swore I wouldn’t let thoughts of him ruin. The day I’m determined to reclaim for myself, free of any lingering heartbreak.

Part of me wants to scream at the universe for its twisted sense of humor. Part of me wants to ignore his messages, block his number, and pretend he doesn’t exist. But a bigger part of me, the part that still aches from his betrayal, needs to prove that I’ve moved on too. So maybe it’s anger, ego, or just plain pettiness—because I’m not proud of what I do next.

EMILY (ME)

ROB

Okay. So now I just have to come up with a last minute reason why my date couldn’t make it, hoping Rob won’t see right through me. Fever? An allergy? Should I just hire an actor to play my date?

“What’s with the face, Tantrum?” I don’t notice Joshua pulling up in front of me. He gets out of the car to haul our luggage like he’s freaking Hercules, and I help. By help, I mean I carry my personal bag and load one carry-on.

Once we’re inside the car, he asks again, “Seriously, what was that face? You okay?” During the flight, he was wearing a hoodie, but in the Manila heat, he’s now wearing a plain black v-neck. Tattoos are much more visible. From this distance, I can make out half a wolf on his upper arm, vines, plus an assortment of other symbols on his lower arm.

“Nothing,” I say, still looking at his arm. I should stop staring. Yep.Move your eyes, Emily. Now, please.

He glances at me, one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the shifting gear. “Doesn’t look like it’s nothing,” he says. “Do you wanna hold my hand again?” He flexes his hand in front of me, the bastard.

“No,” I say, chuckling slightly.

“Come on, tell me. I won’t spill,” he says, making a zipping motion over his mouth. The virtual map says we’re two hours away from Magnolia Heights. I guess I need to get this all out of my system before I arrive there.

“Fine. Just promise you won’t get all judge-y.”

“I’ll try.” He smiles.

“Alright. So you know Rob, right?” I start.

“Well yeah. Are you together?” he says. “Oh, wait, you said weeks ago that you had a bad breakup. Was that with him?”

I nod, surprised he remembers. “Yup, he’s my ex-boyfriend now,” I confirm, and Joshua does a quick look at me, eyebrows raised and eyes wide with disbelief. “Cheated on me for a year. I found out because while we were on Facetime, there was someone in his bed. He didn’t even deny it, just admitted that it’s been going on for a year and then broke up with me.” I shrug. The more I say it, the less daunting it sounds.

“How…” Josh starts. “How could anyone cheat on you? You’re…” He sighs. “Nevermind, what’s the problem?”

“Were you going to say I was amazing and beautiful and all that?” I say jokingly to lighten the mood.

“Well… yeah,” he admits, and I feel my cheeks heat up, so I immediately deflect. We’re at a stoplight, so I hand him my phone and let him read the conversation.

“That’s the problem.”

Joshua snorts, glancing over at me with amusement. “And let me guess—you don’t have a date.”

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