Page 29 of Wasted Memories
I swallowed to try and clear the rock in my throat. “Can you come get me?”
Her tone changed, now less cheerful and more laced with concern. “Of course. Where are you? I’ll leave right now.” I’d walked so far trying to process what happened that I wasn’t sure. I looked at the street sign closest to me and relayed it to her as her car started in the background of the call.
After we hung up, I sat on the curb waiting for her. I didn’t know how I was going to explain everything to her. She wouldn’t force me to tell her if I didn’t want to, but once I did, she’d be livid with Jett. As upset with him as I was right now, I didn’t want to make everyone else turn against him too.
Stella pulled up to the curb beside me after what felt like hours. She went to get out of the car as I stood up, but I motioned for her to stay in. I didn’t want to be out here longer than I had to, not with the possibility of Jett coming to look for me.
I got in the passenger seat and she turned the overhead light on.
“Oh my God. You’re bleeding.” She grabbed my hand and gently pulled my arm closer to her, slightly twisting it to examine me further.
I hadn’t realized I was bleeding. It must’ve been from the glass when it shattered everywhere. My upper arm was still sore from where he’d pulled me, but I didn’t want to worry her further so I kept quiet.
“Did Jett do this?” she asked. I couldn’t look at her, couldn’t speak. I was afraid that if I voiced what happened, I’d break down, and I was trying so hard to not fall apart. She must’ve realized because she let go of my wrist, not pressing for an answer. She turned the overhead light off and began driving.
What did I do to deserve any of this? The person who promised to be by my side through it all shouldn’t be the same person causing me harm.
We pulled up to her house and got out of the car. I felt like a zombie as I walked inside behind her. She flicked the lights on in the kitchen and grabbed me a granola bar and water as I sat at the island.
“If you don’t want to talk about it tonight, we don’t have to, but I should take a look at your arm so it doesn’t get infected.”
She went into the guest bathroom and came back a minute later with first aid supplies. She sat next to me and gently laid my arm on the cold granite. I watched silently as she poured rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and blotted my cuts, my eyes squeezing shut against the sting.
“He didn’t mean to hurt me,” I said quietly, my eyes still closed.
“Oh, honey, I know.” She ran her free hand down my hair soothingly as she let my cuts dry. “I don’t think he’s well. He’s got some things of his own he needs to figure out and I don’t want him taking you down with him.”
I looked at her, trying to read what she wasn’t saying. “You know?”
She nodded. “Brendt told me. He wanted me to keep an eye on things, make sure no one was targeting you when we’d go out. I know you don’t want to hear it, but Jett’s made enemies doing what he does. He’s in worse trouble than we think and it’s only a matter of time before it catches up to him.”
I knew there was more to the story, but I couldn’t take all of this at once tonight. A few days ago, I had no question in my mind about being with Jett. I was so confident in our future together. In a matter of days, that all changed. Now, I didn’t know what to think.
Was I a fool to want to keep trying with him? I wasn’t honestly sure if that was even what I wanted. I wanted things to go back to how they used to be, before his drinking got this bad, before I knew he was dealing, and possibly using.
“I just don’t get why he didn’t tell me. I thought he trusted me.”
“I’m sure he does trust you. I think things progressed quicker than he thought they would, and now he’s in over his head with no idea what to do about it.” She covered my cuts with small bandages after applying ointment.
“Is it alright if I go to bed?”
“Guest room is all made up for you.” She hesitated, biting the inside of her cheek as she watched me. “I know it doesn’t do much, but I’m sorry this happened. You can stay here as long as you want, okay?”
I nodded and got off the chair to hug her. I didn't know what I’d do without Stella. I could come to her about anything and she wouldn’t judge me. Friends like this were few and far between. I’d never take her for granted, not after everything we’d been through.
After I let her go, I headed to the guest room and locked the door. I didn’t lock it because I didn’t want Stella coming in. I locked it in case Jett came here looking for me because I had no doubt in my mind that he’d be out there scouring the streets for me soon.
Chapter Fourteen
Wesley
Ididn’tsleepmuchlast night. I was stuck thinking about Emerson for far longer than I’d like to admit. The look on her face when I left her in her bedroom was ingrained in my mind. I had to fight everything in me not to wrap my arms around her and take her far away from Jett.
It made my stomach turn to think she felt bad about herself because of the way he had treated her. That was the shitty part about some men, they turned things around to take the blame off of themselves, to make the woman feel at fault for something they didn’t even do.
Growing up, my parents had a healthy relationship, but that didn’t mean I was oblivious to how bad relationships could be. The chances of a relationship heading south were too great for me to want to take the risk with anyone. I’d been with a few women here or there in my twenty eight years of life, but nothing long term. It’d been well over a year since I’d even done anything with a woman. Once my dad got sick, the focus moved to him and I didn’t have time for any of that.
I walked into the Tavern to pick up lunch for my coworkers. Though I knew they would say otherwise, I was going to pay for the damn food. I swear this town was full of children disguised as adults.
