Page 100 of Unravel

Hetakes a step back but nods his head once in agreement.

So,Ileave.Ileave beforeIcan’t because the fight is almost all out of me.

20

Evan

“WhatcanIget ya?” the waitress asks.Shelooks harried.Ican see why.Thereis a crowd forming in the lobby.IsupposeIbarely beat the lunch rush.

“Water, theAll-Americanbacon cheeseburger, and fries.Whileyou’re here, add on a slice of apple pie and coffee with the dessert.”

“Wouldyou like ice cream on top or maybe a slice of cheese?”

“Cheese?Onpie?”Iask.

Shenods.

“Dopeople actually do that?”

“Don’tknock it until you try it.”

Ihand her the menu. “I’llpass on the cheese, but the ice cream sounds good.”

“Soundsgood, sugar.”Sheleaves with my menu but quickly returns with the water and silverware.

“It’sbusy today.”

Sheglances toward the front of the diner. “Yeah, we get a lot of travelers since we’re right off the exit.Wedo our best not to make you wait once you get seated.Yourfood should be out in a few minutes. ”

“Thanks!”

Shegives me a smile and stops at the booth across the aisle to take another order.

Iglance at my phone.Ican’t stop looking at it.Ithought puttingAltain the rearview would make me feel better, soIcan concentrate on what’s ahead of me.Theproblem is, no matter how many milesItravel, it’s still there.Theyare still there.

It’sbeen three days, and neither of them has texted.Apart of me wanted them to discoverIwas gone and beg me to return.Theyhave well and truly shut me out.SeemsIwasn’t enough for either of them.Itonly serves to solidify my decision to leave now instead of later.

Ipress my hand to my chest.Likedog tags for my heart,I’mwearing her rings on a chain around my neck.Ijust want them close to me.Shewas mine…for a while.Ithought we could promise forever, but she felt differently.Regardlessof whatIhad hoped, something was missing in our relationship.

Luke.

Myfist clenches, angry at myself for getting so low, so hurt thatIalmost did the one thingIshould never do.Wewere treading on a very slippery slope.IfIeverkiss him,Iwill lose control and never regain it.ThenIwill commit the sins that have been drilled into my head as being unnatural and wrong—so wrong.Itis just a fact, somethingIknow about myself.

No,Ican’t go there.

Startingover is good.

Ihave to leave that all behind, leave them behind.Itis a new start, a new life, andI’mgoing to be better.

Rightnow,Ihave no idea howI’mgoing to get over the love in my chest that is literally ripping my heart into pieces.MaybeInever will.Maybelove will just have to be one of the sacrificesIhave to make.

“Youokay?”

Ilook up into the familiar face of a bearded man with shoulder-length black hair and blue eyes a few shades lighter than mine.Heis cradling a helmet under his arm, and dressed in jeans, a black leather jacket, and motorcycle boots.

Somethingabout him seems familiar.Iwonder if he is just asking out of kindness, or if he knows me somehow.

“Yeah?”Itcomes out as more of a question.I’mnot sure ifI’masking him why he’s talking to me, or ifI’mactually okay.

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