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He snickered. “I don’t think you’re ready for college. I don’t think you have the willpower or the want to do it after seeing you like that. And I think that’s what’s making you miserable.”
“What?”
“I don’t think you’re upset with Clint at all for not wanting to go to college. I think you’re upset with him because he had the balls to choose the road you wish you could travel.”
I glared at him. “Mike, cut it out.”
He shook his head. “No, no I won’t. Because someone has to tell Rae the cold, hard truth. You went off on Clint, a man that loves you. A man that has followed you around blindly and would do anything for you. But watching you go off on him like that? Go off on me? He didn’t deserve that, and neither did I. Allison didn’t deserve to clean up your mess. You dragged all of us through the mud that night. And I think it’s all because you don’t actually want to be here.”
Rae gritted her teeth. “I know what I did to you guys that night. I know this is all my fault.”
“Do you? Do you really, Rae? This was supposed to be a fun end of the summer road trip for the four of us before everything changes. Because that’s all you’ve been talking about. How it’s going to change. How we’re going to change. So we had this. And then you go and pull this shit and then get angry because we’re angry? Come on.”
I leveled out my voice. “Mike, cut it out.”
Ally shook her head. “Just let him say it, please.”
I looked over at Rae and saw tears cresting her eyes as Mike continued.
“It’s easy to make plans and talk a big talk, but when it comes down to it, Rae, life gets busy and shit happens. This was supposed to be good for all of us. And now, you’ve made it all about you. You and your wishy-washy decision-making skills and your drama and your crap. I’m over it.”
I stood up from my chair. “Enough, Michael.”
He glared up at me. “You should be more pissed than I am.”
I cocked my head. “Leave it alone. Now.”
I heard Ally softly apologizing to the people on the ot
her side of the hibachi table. But it was too late. They had already gathered their things and gotten up. Everyone working in that damn place stared us down as if we were maniacs ruining their evening. I wasn't backing down, though. Mike had gone much too far. Especially with the way Rae was sniffling. I made sure he heard my tone. Saw my fists balled up at my sides. Because I didn't have any issues coming to blows with him again.
He was lucky I wasn’t already wailing on him because he made Rae cry.
“Just sit.”
Rae’s whispered words came along with a tug at my arm. And I did as she asked. Mike shook his head as he flopped back into his chair, looking as desolate as I’d ever seen him. Ally rubbed his leg with her hand. Tried comforting him as much as she could. But even she looked a bit empty inside.
This entire weekend had drained all of us.
“Good evening, you guys! Oh, did the other party leave?”
The waitress’s cheery voice grated against my ears.
“I’m not really sure what happened to them,” Ally said.
“Oh, well. No matter. What can I get you guys to drink?” the waitress asked.
We all placed our drink orders, then fell silent again. Our salads came and I saw all of us stabbing our food a little harder than usual. Other than talking with the chef at our hibachi grill, we didn’t utter a word. Not to one another, and certainly not among ourselves. The food tasted bland. My appetite quickly faded away as my plate was stacked higher with food. Even drenching it in ginger sauce didn’t do much for my appetite.
I ended up packing up most of it into a to-go box.
“I’m not paying for her meal,” Mike murmured.
Ally sighed. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m paying, then.”
Rae piped up. “It’s okay. I can pay for--”
I held my hand out, silencing her words. “Thank you, Ally. I really appreciate you being the bigger person you are.”
