Page 14 of Until I Found You
“We will get him, G. It’ll happen.”
“I want you to keep on him for me. If you hear anything, let me know. I have to check on my mom, make sure she’s alright,” I say, picking up my baseball cap off the coat rack behind me.
“Oh, and do me a favor, do something about those papers on my fucking desk. Will ya?”
With the sound of his laugh behind me, I duck my head from the sun as I head out the door.
It’s after seven o’clock when I finally make it out of the office and home for the night. Running on six hours of sleep, the smart decision would be for me to go home and call it a night. Then, there’s the other side of me, the one thinking about the text about going to Brodie’s tonight that’s winning out. A group of my friends are going out tonight to celebrate Callum and Ellie’s engagement. Knowing Halle will be there and the thought of seeing Halle again is the reason why I head home to change out of my work clothes instead of putting on some gym shorts and a movie.
It’s been weeks since I’ve seen her, but the thought of her walking down the hall in nothing but her towel is not something that’s been far from my mind. It’s made it hard to fall asleep every night.
She’s done a good job of evading me around town, for the most part. I know she’s been by to see my mom a couple of times. I’ve noticed the yellow daisies sitting on the table, her favorite flower. When I went back last week, there were two cupcakes on a plate in the kitchen. My mom insisted she brought one by for the two of us.
It’s a quarter to nine when I pull up to Brodie’s. Parking out back, I walk in through the side door. I spot Mason and Callum standing near the bar, along with our friends, Brannon and Wes.
“Look who decided to finally come hang out with his friends!” Callum shouts over the loud music. His broad grin takes over his face. Happiness looks good on him.
I’m surprised when I don’t see any of the girls standing around them. I knew coming out tonight was going to put me right back to where we were in high school. My eyes survey the crowd at the bar tonight. It doesn’t take long before my eyes fall on the beautiful long blonde hair and sun-kissed skin I know belong to Halle. She’s standing next to Kinsley and Ellie, who I had a chance of meeting when I had to stop out at Callum’s place earlier this week to help install a security system.
It takes work, but I force my eyes away from her and back to Callum.
“What’s up, man? I guess I should officially congratulate you now.” I smile. It’s the first genuine smile I’ve felt in a while and I feel the weight of the bullshit going on ease a little bit.
“Thanks, brother. Who would’ve thought I’d be the first one to officially tie the knot?”
He’s right though, even if it’s hard to hear. I’m reminded again Halle’s not too far from me. Remorse is written all over Callum’s face, showing he hadn’t intended for it to come across like it had sounded.
Reaching out, I clap my hand on Callum’s back and congratulate him again. Even if the past keeps getting thrown back in front of me, I genuinely am happy for my friend.
“Well, look who it is!” Her loud cheerful voice booms from behind me. Stepping back from Callum, I turn to see Kinsley with her chocolate brown hair curled over her shoulder holding a shot of what appears to be whiskey in her hand.
I can feel Halle’s eyes on me. Our bodies have always been so in tune with one another. I do my best to not turn my head and look at her. The fear of not knowing what look I’ll find staring at me is what has me resisting.
Reaching my arms out, I pull Kinsley into a close hug.
“It’s good to see you again,” she murmurs in my ear, low enough for only me to hear over the crowd of people and music blaring through the speakers.
“It’s good to see you too. Oh, and just so you know, I’m getting you back for that little run-in you planned,” I quip. Outside of sending her a text message calling her a “little shit” I never did mention to her what her little surprise led to.
She barks out a loud laugh. “Yeah, I heard all about it. Consider myself punished.” She giggles.
“How’s she doing?” I ask. If there’s anyone who knows and understands the depth of what Halle meant to me, it’s Kinsley.
“Better now. She won’t say it, but I know she’s glad you’re home.”
“I missed you, Kins.”
“I missed you, too, you big lug. Don’t you think about leaving again either or I’ll be hauling ass out of this town and will drag you back here with me.”
She laughs. It’s light and joking, but I don’t doubt for a second if I were to try and leave again, she really would come after me.
Despite how hard it has been for me to be back, the desire to leave again isn’t there. I know Gage would’ve wanted me home.
“Alright, everyone,” Kinsley announces, with her hands cupped around her mouth. “I have an announcement to make.”
Stepping back, I let my eyes fall around the group again, but it doesn’t take long before they fall on Halle. The moment I look at her, I’m surprised when I find hers looking back at me as if she’s been waiting for the moment I give in and look at her.
The small smile that curves the edge of her lip draws my attention down to it, making it difficult to not interrupt the announcement and pull her close to me. I don’t though, because as much as I want her, I know I don’t deserve her after all the hurt I’ve caused.
