Page 38 of A Slice of Love

Until he told me that even though I obviously spent the entire night reminiscing and trying to scheme up a way to get out of it, I was going for drinks tonight whether I liked it or not.

Then he brought up how he saved me from that Wilson guy perving on me at the store the other day, and drinks were back on.

Now, here I am, sitting across from Jonas.

The guy who took my virginity.

The guy who broke me.

The guy who can still make me cry all these years later.

The guy who makes my heart race, even when he’s laughing at my own stupid words.

“Oh, Frank.” He laughs, leaning across the table, encroaching on my space, making me feel smaller than I already am. “You kill me. Everyone at this table knows you and I weremuchmore than friends.”

Heat covers my cheeks and I sink into the booth, mortified even though he’s right. We all know what happened between the two of us; I’d just rather not have my mistakes acknowledged out loud. It makes the bitter pill easier to swallow that way.

“Well, since we’re apparently already playing with fire tonight, how about a shot or two of cinnamon whiskey? My treat.”

Julian doesn’t give either of us a chance to answer, scurrying off to the bar to place the order.

For the first time in four years, Jonas and I are alone.

Cue heart attack.

I drop my gaze to my lap, but I can feel Jonas raking his eyes over me. I hate it and love it at the same time.

My mind screams,Don’t react!when I feel him shift in his seat and stretch out his long legs, his knee brushing against mine ever so slightly.

I don’t move.

I don’t breathe.

For those few minutes, we just exist.

He stares. I hide.

It’s high school all over again.

We sit in silence like this for several minutes, and it takes me that long to realize Julian isn’t coming back any time soon.

The waiter drops off our waters, and I almost beg him to stay forever and ever so I never have to sit alone with Jonas like this ever again.

Sweat begins to form on the backs of my knees, and I’m beginning to stick to the booth.

I need to move or else I’m going to melt from nerves.

I scoot to the outer edge of the seat and peek around the corner, trying to get Julian’s attention, but I know there’s no use when I see him unabashedly flirting with the bartender.

As if he can feel my eyes on him, he turns toward me and winks then resumes his conversation.

Traitor.

“We’ve been ditched, haven’t we?”

I startle at the sudden noise inside the otherwise quiet booth.

Jonas has the decency to look sorry.

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