Page 97 of Bewitched & Bewildered
I shake my head as if that will make him disappear—like I’m an Etch A Sketch, and he’s a poorly done portrait. “What are you doing here?”
I should be angrier—more demanding—when I ask the question. Instead, I’m puzzled.
“I don’t know.” It’s impossible to tell he’s drunk until he lets out a laugh. It’s closer to a giggle but without a speck of amusement. “I was supposed to leave days ago…”
“Where’s Vanessa?” I scan the area, just in case.
I’ll be gone in a heartbeat if she’s here. I wouldn’t put it past her to return to the other man after acting like she wants me back. It seems in character for her.
“I don’t know.” He stares into the bottom of his glass. “She dumped me. But she dumped you first, so I shouldn’t complain, huh?”
I’m probably supposed to feel good about their breakup, but I don’t.
With a sigh, I prop myself onto the stool next to his. “She didn’t dump me; she cheated on me. You can’t compare our situations, bud.”
He winces. “That’s true…”
Otis and I never talked about what happened. Not really. We had one yelling match—not my finest moment—and I never wanted to bring the conversation up again. I still don’t. The fates have other plans; they usually do.
“So, what? Are you moving here? To Waterville?” I snort. “No one wants to live in Waterville.”
I would rather live in Starbrook or another quaint town than in a moderate city like this. There’s nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to brag about, other than a college or two. Otis doesn’t belong here, and we both know it.
He shakes his head. “I can’t live here. I have a job to get back to.”
“Yeah. You do.”
I don’t want him sticking around. I’m allowed to have one selfish thought.
“I couldn’t stand the idea of driving back with her.”
“Can’t say I blame you.”
“I have a rental car booked for tomorrow,” he says. “I’ll be out of your hair soon.”
There’s nothing else to say. I should try to get closure, but I’ve had enough of that. Things feel closed with Vanessa. Perhaps I’ll never get it with Otis. I don’t think he has the emotional capacity.
“Well…” I stand. “I’ll be on the other side of the bar. Give you your space.”
“Wait.” He glances at me, and I realize how pathetic he looks. Maybe he’s always been like this.
I lift a brow.
“I’m sorry for hurting you. Everything I did was stupid as fuck. It was wrong. It probably doesn’t seem like it, but I’ve thought about it a lot. I should have put our friendship first and…”
There’s no end to his sentence. It never comes. Relief from his apology doesn’t come either.
I smile sadly. “Yeah. You should have.”
But I don’t need to dangle it over his head, and I won’t let it ruin my night of relaxation. I clap him on the back before walking away.
I’ll probably never get closure with Otis, but I’m ready to move on now.
I’m not a big enough man to say it aloud, but when I glance back at my old friend… I hope, someday, he’ll find happiness.
Chapter 22
Juniper
