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“I didn’t want to lose my virginity to some random guy before college,” I finally said. “I wanted you, Jack Franco. And I wanted you before we lost our chance. I was just bad at explaining it at the time.”
“I overreacted,” Jack admitted, pushing his empty plates of food to the edge of the diner booth. “Last night at the hospital you admitted that your relationship with your mother poisoned the way you trusted other people. I absolutely understand that, Alyssa. My father had the same effect on me growing up. He shaped who I am, for better or for worse.”
I put my hand over his. “For the better, I think.”
“Maybe,” Jack said doubtfully.
“No.” I shook my head. “You’re a good man, Jack Franco.”
He blushed, and looked down at his coffee mug uncomfortably.
“I can’t believe you punched Mark Thompson at prom.”
“I’m not exactly proud of it. There’s something I heard once, from another firefighter. You aren’t responsible for the trauma that happens to you in life. But you are responsible for how you deal with it.”
“I like that,” I said. “Well, you may feel guilty for punching Mark Thompson, but he deserved it. If I had known about it back then, I would’ve thrown myself at you.”
Jack perked up. “Really?”
“A big gesture? Punching the asshole who stood me up? I’m so wet just thinking about it, you could give a toddler a bath in my panties right now.”
Jack burst out laughing. “But, like, you wouldn’t. Right?”
“Oh God, no.”
“Glad we’re clear on that.”
I giggled, and he laughed a little bit more.
“And the other time you punched someone for me…”
Jack grimaced.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me about Darren Pamploma?” I asked quietly. “If I had known he got revenge for that punch by torpedoing your Auburn admission…”
“Nothing would have changed,” Jack said firmly. “You would have felt guilty about it for no reason. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Alyssa, but that wasn’t one of them.”
“But think about how different your life might have been! If you had graduated from a good school like Auburn…”
“I might have a business degree, and spend my life sitting behind a computer screen,” he finished for me. “I would’ve been miserable. I don’t believe things happen for a reason, but that’s one thing I’m glad happened. I love the life I have.”
“Fine. Then I guess I won’t feel guilty about it.”
He pointed a meaty finger at me. “You’d better not.”
We grinned across the booth at each other.
“This feels so natural,” I said. “How did we mess up so badly?”
“We were teenagers,” Jack said. “In other words: complete idiots.”
“Seriously!” I replied. “Honestly, you shouldn’t be considered an adult until, like, age twenty-six.”
“I like that. Right now, at this moment, we’re exactly as wise as we’re ever going to get.” He spread his hands. “I see no issues with this line of reasoning.”
My phone rang. It was Brandi.
“Do you need to answer that?” Jack asked.
