Page 31 of This Memory
“I got the feeling you were trying to push me away. Why?”
Her mouth opened then closed. “Push you away?”
“Yes. It was like we were getting along just fine for a little bit, but you couldn’t deal with that, so you decided to say something you knew would bother me.”
When her eyes dropped to her plate, I wanted to jumpup and yell, “I knew it,” but I kept my cool.
When she lifted her head, our eyes met. “I don’t honestly know why I said what I said, other than maybe, in my mind, I’m still trying to paint you as the guy I thought you were. The guy who let his friends talk shit about me and didn’t stick up for me. Maybe I wanted to hurt you like you hurt me.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Brystol. I was young and stupid.”
“And I’m a grown adult woman who shouldn’t be playing games. I can own that.”
“So, does this mean you really want to be friends?”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
“I would too.” But when she started to chew on her lower lip, I asked, “What?”
“Well…” she started, then gave a shrug. “Can we still banter sometimes? I mean, I kind of get a little thrill when we do it.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “A thrill, huh?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Yeah. Don’t you?”
I nodded. “I do.”
“So maybe we do the whole frenemies thing.”
“I can do that.”
Her smile grew to a grin. “Good. I can too.”
I reached across the table, and she took my offered hand. I squeezed hers and said, “I want to be here for you, Bry.”
“Oh my God!”
Brystol’s eyes widened as we both slowly turned to see Cindy standing by our table.
“You’re datingher?” Cindy shouted.
Brystol closed her eyes and let out a soft groan.
“How long has this been going on? I thought you couldn’t stand her?”
Brystol gave me a wry look, raising a brow.
Holding my hands up to calm Cindy, I said, “Stop. Please just stop.”
All eyes were on us.
“Who would’ve thought the sheriff would have so much drama,” someone said.
I looked around to see who said it. “I’m not the sheriff, and I don’t have drama.”
“It’s Officer Quinn. Not the sheriff.”
Thatvoice I recognized as my old seventh-grade math teacher, Mrs. Sharp.
