Page 57 of Wasted Memories
“Just a coconut mojito. Thanks.”
“Hey, you’re Emerson, right?” she asked after she wrote down my drink order.
“I am.” I’d never met this woman in my life. I’d been to this restaurant a few times, but had never seen her working here before tonight.
“My friend, Cherry, is friends with Luke, and he said you cheated on Jett.”
I froze at how bold she was. Confusion wrinkled my brow. Cheated? That’s the story they were spinning?
“Sam, I know you mean no harm, but kindly put our drink order in and mind your business,” Stella snapped at her in her I’m-trying-to-be-nice-but-you’re-pissing-me-off voice.
“I didn’t mean to pry.” Sam slipped her notepad into her apron, clicking the top of her pen.
Stella snorted.
“Well, you did,” Jessica said from beside me as Sam walked away.
“What kind of fucking name is Cherry?” Stella scoffed. “No wonder Luke likes her, if her friend gives any indication how stupid their group is.”
I set my elbow on the table and rested my chin in my hand. “I shouldn’t be surprised that’s what he’s telling people.”
“Ah, fuck them. It doesn’t matter what they say. We know it’s not true.”
I looked at Stella, who was sitting across from me. “He thought I was going to go back to him.”
“Seriously?”
“How do you know that?” Jessica asked at the same time.
“He pulled up to my mom’s house as Wesley and I were leaving.”
Stella’s eyes narrowed. “You were at your moms? With Wesley?”
I forgot to tell them about my father. In my defense, I was a little preoccupied in the hours following the news. I filled them in on the details, Stella’s jaw dropping further with every bit of information I told them.
“So, wait.. Your mom knew where he was this whole time?” Jessica asked. She’d turned her body toward mine, sipping her drink that was brought to our table sometime during the bomb I dropped on them.
“I guess so. I don’t really know what to make of it.”
Stella was already halfway done with her cocktail where I had barely taken one small pull from my straw.
Jessica opened her mouth to ask a question but was cut off by Brendt sliding into the booth next to Stella.
“Long time no see, ladies.”
Stella rolled her eyes. “We’re having a girls’ night, Brendt. Last I checked, you’re not a girl.”
“You checking me out, Stells?”
“I’d rather stab an umbrella toothpick through my eyes than check you out, B.”
A smile pulled at Jessica’s lips as she leaned closer to me, whispering in my ear, “Do they always flirt like this?”
Stella pointed a glare at Jessica. “What was that, Jess?”
She leaned back in the seat, putting her straw in between her teeth. “Oh, nothing. Continue, please.”
Stella had her arm on the table, holding her drink, when Brendt put both his hands on the table, folding his fingers together. Their arms brushed, and I tried not to bring attention to it. Stella hated when the little things were pointed out.
