Page 85 of Chasing Stars
I sigh. “I kept a secret from her for a few weeks and she found out about it before I could tell her.”
“Oh no, Miles,” Melanie whines. “I’m sorry.” She pats my hand from across the bar.
“Really?” Danny asks, looking surprised with a lift of his brow.
“What do you mean, really?” I scowl. “Do you know something I don’t?”
He scratches his chin and shrugs. “No, it’s just, the day I saw Jenna, she was really upset…but not about a secret.” He pauses, running his hand up the back of his neck.
“What?” I raise my voice, standing. “You have to tell me.”
“Easy, boy,” Liam says, chuckling, tugging me back into my seat.
I sit back down and take another sip of beer.
“I was at her house last Saturday working. She came by...” He hesitates. “She was really upset about Erin. I assumedthat'swhy you broke up.”
“Hold on. Erin? The fuck?” Jack shouts. “Mel, I’m gonna need another beer for this.”
I groan and pick up my own, draining it in one gulp. The alcohol takes the edge off, and a fuzzy warmth envelops me. “Settle in, boys,” I tell them. “It’s a long story.”
I fill my friends in on everything—from the realization of Jenna’s dad being my savior, to introducing her to my family and falling completely in love with her. They all look so happy for me—until I crush the moment, retelling how Erin knocked on my door and ruined everything. “If Erin had never shown up, I would have come clean to Jenna that morning,” I mutter, tangling my fingers in my messy hair.
“So, let me get this straight,” Liam, who has been quietly listening up until now, finally speaks. “You told each other you were in love, woke up the next morning to Erin showing up, before you could come clean about her dad?”
I nod. “Yep, you nailed it.” I smack my lips together. “I’m fucked, aren’t I?”
Liam furrows his brow and pushes his lips together. “But you’re in love. That doesn’t justgo away. I don’t think you’re fucked per say, but you need a big gesture. Don’t you remember? That’s how I got Sophie.”
“What kind of big gesture? Buy her something?” I glance between my friends.
Jack shakes his head. “No, dude. It’s gotta be bigger than that. EvenIknow that.”
We’re all lost in thought until Danny snaps his fingers, breaking our silence. “What about something for her dad?”
“I don’t know,” I shake my head. “What would I do for her dad? He died so long ago.”
Everyone is quiet again, lost in thought. I’m thinking about the day at the beach and how many times we surfed there together, when a lifetime ago, her dad saved my life. That’s when it dawns on me, but I’ll need help. I clap my hands. “I’ve got it.” I stand up, throwing some cash on the bar.
“What?” everyone asks at the same time.
“I will explain later, right now, I have to go.” I run out of the bar and straight to my parents’ house. The only one who can help me with this is Councilman Corbin…my dad.
43
JENNA
Acouple of weeks without Miles in my life feels like I’ve lost a limb. I can’t believe I went from feeling so happy and taken care of to just, not. The funny thing is, most mornings I wake up feeling okay. I get ready for work, have breakfast and burnt coffee with Aunt Leona, and carry on with my day. On days that I don’t have work, I research DIY projects to make the house more appealing to buyers. I have also been looking for jobs in South Carolina, near Morgan. My search isn’t going so well right now, but that’s not stopping me from looking. Occasionally, the loss of Miles hits me with a crashing wave of grief. I think it’s really the loss of everything in my life that seemed sturdy. Thankfully, I have Joy, Aunt Leona, and Jake.
It’s the week before Thanksgiving and the hardware store has been incredibly busy. Joy gave Leo and me more hours, and I am socking away all the money I can. Helping customers decide what they need keeps my mind off the current indecision in my life. Iamsad, but I finally feel like I’ll be okay, wherever I end up in the new year.
It’s almost the end of my shift when the door jingles and in walks Jake and Aunt Leona. Jake is wearing a Santa hat, and I bark out a laugh. “Feeling jolly? You’re a smidge early.” I giggle.
“We thought we’d see if you wanted to come get a Christmas tree with us,” Jake says, sauntering up to the counter while Aunt Leona peruses the LED lights on the carousel in front of me.
“A real tree?” I perk up immediately.
“What else is there?” Jake frowns.
