Page 34 of The Has-Been

I’m staring off in space again, thinking about Aubrey, when Brennan’s reply pops up.

Brennan:

Liam?

I quickly type out:

Liam:

Why most of our texts are emojis beats the hell out of me. It’s something Brennan started freshman year and has continued ever since. I laugh as I read the reply.

Brennan:

I stuff my phone back into my pocket and put my Jeep into reverse.

Several minutes into my drive, and I’m still sitting in total silence. Why silence? Because I’m a psychopath and any music I want to listen to will only remind me of Aubrey.

I slow down as I see a figure walking on the side of the road.

“Why the fuck are you walking down the road in a God damn snow storm?” I yell, throwing my hands out the window as I slowly pass by the stranger.

It’s below freezing, and the Weather Channel is calling for several inches of snow tonight. Why this woman thought it was a good idea to walk home in three-inch heels and an inch of snow seems like quite the choice—but it’s also a college campus, so should I be that surprised?

But as I slowly creep by, I do a quick double-take in my side mirror.

I’m sure that I’ve totally lost my fucking mind because now I’m having visions of her. First at therapy, when I saw her playing a vinyl, and now I’m mistaking her for a random woman on the side of the road.

I’m a real mess.

I blink, looking in the mirror again, but this time I’m certain I’m not losing my mind—I could recognize those bangs a mile away.

It really is Aubrey.

Keep driving, Liam.

Don’t look back. Don’t look⁠—

I look back. Of course I fucking do.

Clearly, my body isn’t listening to my mind because I’m slowing down, pulling in the nearest driveway. I sit there for a few seconds, trying to talk myself off the edge. I make it all but five seconds before I slam my car into reverse, running my hands through my hair before backing out.

Don’t do it. Don’t do it. A voice tells me over and over again as I blatantly ignore it and turn around in her direction.

Do I have no self-control?

Apparently not, as I slow down when I see her shadow, arms curled around herself.

Why isn’t she wearing a fucking jacket? It’s freezing out here. She hates the cold.

I stop, rolling down my window as my heart beats like a drum in my chest. I can see her tense, her eyes dancing to where I’m stopped in the middle of the road.

While Delleth is known for being one of the safest campuses in Michigan, that doesn’t mean bad shit doesn’t happen on occasion. She likely thinks a bunch of men are going to step out and grab her.

Damn, way to go, Liam—you’ve managed to scare the shit out of her.

Aubrey starts walking faster, and I’m just sitting in my Jeep, staring at her as she squints from the beams of my headlights. I open my door, making sure no one is coming down the road before I step out and stride towards her.

“Stay back! You fucking creep!” she yells, stopping midstride, her crooked index finger pointed right at me.