Page 38 of The Has-Been

“Nothing,” she uses my own reply from earlier against me. It takes every ounce of restraint not to smile outright at her.

“Are you warm?” I ask finally, trying to ignore the sweat beading on my forehead. I know it’s not only from the sickening heat of my Jeep but from being alone with her for the first time since we broke up.

Jasmine is going to be so proud when I tell her I’ve managed to hold a conversation without spiraling out of control. I guess the night is still young, though…Maybe I should hold off celebrating just yet.

“Yeah, I’m good,” she offers as we both reach for the heat. But this time our hands don’t touch; she stops herself before we connect. I turn the fan on low, clearing my throat as I continue down the increasingly snow-covered roads.

“I didn’t know it was supposed to snow this much,” she notes. And I know it’s her attempt to break up the awkwardness.

But why is it always the weather…whenever two people have five thousand more pressing things to discuss, why do we always panic and talk about the fucking weather?

I chuckle. Humor long removed from my tone.

It’s slow at first. Like the first raindrops warning of a storm blowing in. Aubrey’s head jerks in my direction, sneaking another bite of my fries.

“The weather?” I ask. “That’s the best you can come up with?” And suddenly my temper is flaring. I was way too quick to think I could actually do this without losing control. Jasmine isn’t going to be proud of my progress; she’s gonna be asking why I drove my Jeep into Lake Superior instead of just answering Aubrey’s question like a fucking sane person.

“I’m sorry!” she fires off, her voice rising, “How about this!” The vein in her forehead is mocking me again. “Hey, how have you been? Good? Oh, great! Yeah, and by the way, so sorry I broke your heart—hope you’re doing well. Tell Karen I said hi!” She word vomits, brows furrowing together.

“Leave my mom out of this!” I counter.

But she continues, “Oh, and thanks for picking me up on the side of the road after a terrible fucking night when the guy I tried to hook up with reminded me that I’m your ex while he rubbed his finger over my⁠—”

“Ehh!” I sound, throwing my hands up from the steering wheel.

“Oh, like you didn’t know what I was planning on doing when you saw me with him!”

“Oh, I knew, but I didn’t want to fucking think about it!” I yell back, turning down the road that leads to the second gated entrance of her neighborhood.

“Sorry, I’m trying to move on!” She slams the box of takeout closed and throws it on the floorboard.

I situate my elbow on the windowsill, my head resting on my hand. I turn down her road, my body knowing the way on instinct. Pulling into her driveway, Aubrey immediately scrambles out, slamming the door closed behind her. I toss my hands out as she flips me off before entering the front door.

My chest rises and falls as I try to focus on my breathing.

I sit there for a few seconds before my anger bubbles over and I repeatedly slam my palm against the steering wheel.

What. Just. Happened? How did we even get to this point?

I know I should leave—that there is nothing left here.

Clearly.

But I can’t. Not yet.

My eyes remained glued on the upstairs window, knowing that’s her room. I watch until I see the glow of her bedroom light beam through the curtains, until I know she’s safe inside, before I take a deep breath and leave her behind.

CHAPTER 7

KAREN

AUBREY

I slam the front door. My head rests on the cool doorframe as I press against it.

What just happened?

Fuck.