Page 102 of Never Not Friends

“Well, thank goodness for Jackie Lawson forcing you two to break up,” Juliet says, stealing the opportunity away from me. Vinny’s eyes stay locked on mine as she loops her arm through his, hugging him close. “Or else we wouldn’t be having a wedding in one week. We owe everything to your parents.”

Self-preservation kicks in, and I fake a huge smile, shifting my gaze to Juliet. “Right? Everything worked out just as it should.”

Across the table, Vinny stays rigid, eyes still drilling me.

“We think so too.” Juliet nuzzles him closer, completely unfazed.

The conversation changes back to Carly’s little brother, but I don’t feel any reprieve. All I feel is Vinny’s gaze on me, burning with a thousand questions.

But I can’t do it.

I can’t look at him.

Hours later, when I’m alone at my house, my phone lights up with Vinny’s name and picture.

He hasn’t called me in years. Probably since college.

Even text messages have been few and far between, usually only for some kind of coordination for Juliet.

But tonight, he’s calling me…like old times.

I stare at my phone, heart pounding in wild, frenzied beats just like the day I broke up with him all those years ago.

I thought for a moment at dinner that saying things from the past might help me get over him. But that was in a controlled environment with friends around. With his fiancée hanging on his arm.

A one-on-one phone call is more than I can handle.

It feels wrong.

Having this conversation twelve years ago might have changed everything. Having it now, one week before his wedding, would only make things worse. So I watch his call go to voicemail.

Ten seconds later, a text pops up.

Vinny:

Was all that true about your mom making you break up with me?

I stare at his question until another text comes through.