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The next stop wasn’t far, only a few turns and a bit of a winding road into the swamp. I slowed to pull over at a tiny crossing over a creek that had long since dried up. Once upon a time, the old metal bridge to the right had been the only way over, but that bridge had essentially dried up as well. Faded and rusted, but with a cavernous base underneath that had seen many make out sessions and forbidden cigarettes. And my lost virginity.
I rolled down my window and listened to the birds and the breeze blowing through the tall swamp grass. I hadn’t been back here in years.
When Adam first left, I came all the time, even writing some of the earliest letters from our little hangout-turned-love nest. When things soured, however, I stopped. I couldn’t stand to look at the place I thought I’d been so stupidly misled.
You would have waited for me.
He was right. I would have waited.
And now?
I had no idea what now was.
After last night, I had the silliest urge to go down there and sit. Think. Tell that ridiculous girl from six years ago to cool her heels and quit obsessing, because things happen when they’re supposed to happen.
My brother has a woman. He doesn’t need to mess with mine.
Mine.
I couldn’t stop replaying that.
With one hand on the door handle, though, I stopped. Someone was talking.
Someone like... what the hell?
A flash of chrome caught my eye from the basin, and I squinted to see—yep. Adam’s new bike. His voice trickled up from somewhere. Not just his voice. Another voice too. I strained to hear, then sat back, floored.
Female.
Adam was here with—a woman?
No.
But, yes.
Adam’s voice picked up a notch like he was either irritated or happy, I couldn’t tell, and I couldn’t make out the words. I didn’t need to. The red haze that came over me didn’t comprehend normal language anyway.
I put my Jeep in reverse and backed out, turned around, and drove the rest of the way to Grace’s in a hot sheen of angry tears. When I got there, I found myself on her doorstep with no memory of the drive or the walk up the sidewalk.
When she opened the door, her face paled in alarm. “What happened now? What’s wrong?”
I slumped into her arms with a sob. “I’m such an idiot.”
