Page 59 of Between Now and Forever
“That’s what you keep telling me.”
He laughs. “I’m calling because I promised one of my customers that I’d visit his son’s new bar in Logan this weekend.”
I groan because I know where this is going, and I don’t feel like going to a bar right now.
“Listen, it’s a new place—Murray’s on State. He talked it up for half an hour. Then he bought a bunch of shit from me and kept telling me to go. So I said I would. And you’re going with me.”
“Yeah, about that. I don’t think I can.”
“You are.”
I blink. “What did you say?”
“I said you’re going with me. There’s no reason for you to sit all by yourself at home this weekend, thinking about Towel Girl and why you can’t have her.”
Fucker.“That’s not what I’ll be doing.”
“No, you won’t because you’ll be with me. I promised him I’d go, Jay. And you’re my only friend who isn’t married and not a total downer.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Besides, what else do you have to do?”
I flip on my turn signal and go down Bittersweet Court. “Oh, I can think of a million things I have to do.”
“Move them down the list.”
“I—”
“Don’t care, Jay. I don’t give a shit what you’re going to say. You’re coming with me to Murray’s tomorrow. I’ll text you with a time later.”
Sighing, I slow my speed as I near Gabrielle’s.
My heart picks up as I see her car in the driveway. The curtains are open, and Carter is on the porch, dribbling his basketball. He waves and gives me a big, lopsided smile.
I pull into my garage and turn off the engine, switching my phone to speaker. Instead of getting out, I sit in silence.
There’s not even a small part of me that feels like going out tomorrow night with Lark. But if I don’t, I’ll just sit here and ruminate.
Maybe if I go, it’ll break Gabrielle’s spell on me.
“Fine,” I say, climbing out of my truck. “I’ll go.”
“Attaboy. I’ll text you tomorrow. But I’m pulling into this farm, so I gotta go.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
I lock the truck and turn around and— “Shit!Carter, my man, warn a guy before you sneak up on him like that.”
He giggles. “Whatcha doing, Jay?”
“Just got home.”
“Where from?”
“The hardware store.”
