Page 108 of Fair Play
I have to tell her. Show her.
Without a word to anyone, I slip out and head for the diner. It’s just after ten so unless she was cut early, Billie will still be there. It should also be quieter at this time of night. The place stays busy, but there most likely won’t be a line this late.
I find a parking spot in the lot and take a minute to compose myself. Dad’s Mercedes is parked nearby, so she’s here, which means I have to man all the way up and figure out what to say.
How to apologize.
How to make this right.
How to tell her I’ve never loved anyone the way I love her.
I pull an envelope out of the glove box, stick it in the pocket of my jacket, and walk inside. As I predicted, it’s pretty slow andthe guy behind the bar looks like he’s cleaning up. There’s no hostess at the front so I walk to the bar and order a beer.
Then I wait.
There are only a handful of tables with people eating, and one busboy picking up dirty dishes and silverware. The jukebox is playing a sad song about how she can cry because it’s her party, which pretty much fits my current situation. Not that I’m going to cry.
“She’s in the back,” the bartender says without looking up. “She’s been moping around here for two weeks, so you two really need to work this out. Just don’t break her heart again, okay? I’m not a pro hockey player but I do take care of my friends. And she’s a nice girl.” He holds up his left hand. “And before you get upset, I’m a happily married man. We’re just friends.”
Jesus. Does everyone but me know what’s going on with the woman I love?
“Thanks,” I say, laying a twenty on the bar and then walking toward the back.
I see her right away, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, completely lost in thought.
“Hey, baby.” My voice sounds a little funny to my ears but she recognizes it because her eyes pop open and she gapes at me.
“What are you doing back here?” she hisses.
“Came to give you your graduation present.”
She juts out her jaw a little. “I don’t want anything from you.”
“Tough. It’s already done.” I hold out the envelope. “You might as well open it.”
She snatches it out of my hand and rips it open. It takes her a few seconds to recognize what it is and her hand shakes a little.
“Dammit, Rome—I don’t want it. I was going to return it to you as soon as I found something else.”
“I know. Bodi told me.”
She looks annoyed. “Oh, so you guys are buddies now?”
“Baby, the title is in your name. Happy graduation. I wish it could have been a new car.”
Her eyes widen. “You know damn well I don’t care about that.”
I take a step closer. “Can we talk for a minute? Please? Just… I have to tell you something.”
Carefully folding the title, she slowly stuffs it in the pocket of her apron, avoiding my eyes.
“I have to check on my tables, so make it quick.”
I thought I was going to apologize and try to explain myself, but somehow, I don’t think that’s going to work. So I keep it simple. It’s all I’ve got at this point.
“I love you,” I say in the most sincere voice I can. “Since that first night at Blue Thunder. It was so fucking hard to walk away.”
“You had no trouble doing it a few weeks ago.”
