Page 33 of The Has-Been

I saw Aubrey.

I spoke to Aubrey.

Aubrey spoke to me.

Aubrey was on a date.

Aubrey was on a date with Noah Pierce.

AUBREY IS DATING NOAH PIERCE?!

My fist slams into my Jeep’s steering wheel, the horn sounding in the parking lot of Lover’s Burgers. A few people walking by jump at the sound, spinning around to flip me the bird. I wave them off, knowing I need to actually drive out of the parking lot, but I’ve been sitting here for thirty minutes trying to collect myself.

How long has she been dating him?

I haven’t seen him on her socials, or her on his.

God, I sound like a stalker, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t look at her socials.

In all honesty, I’ve been checking every day for the last year.

It’s the only way I know how she is, what she’s been doing.

Like, I know she went on her dream vacation with her family over the summer to Turks and Caicos. And I damn well remember that little picture she took while she was there, the one she should’ve captioned, “For every like this receives, I’ll gut punch my loser ex.” Or something like that.

The Vaughns own a successful ski lodge, so money isn’t really an issue for them. If Richard Vaughn’s only daughter wanted a trip to get over her boyfriend, then she got it.

That was supposed to be our honeymoon destination. And now, I can’t help but wonder if she thought about me at all while she was there.

Then again, I doubt she thinks about me much these days.

I heave a sigh, tossing down the fry in my hand that has now gone cold. But I’m no longer hungry, my appetite long gone the moment my eyes found her.

“It’s good to see you.”

My words play over in my head on repeat, like the winter when Reid discovered Taylor Swift and made us listen to “Dress” on repeat for like two weeks…until one of the guys on the team started sending him friendship bracelets in the mail.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to see several new notifications in the group chat:

The Puck Boys (and Liam).

Brennan:

Where are you guys? Everyone’s at Melbourne’s.

Reid:

Busy

Brennan:

?

I scoff as Reid’s response comes through seconds later.

Reid:

At least one of us is getting laid nowadays. Well, I guess they both are, as I remind myself that Brennan is hooking up with June.