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“Nah. Just wanted to get you alone for a moment to check on you without other ears around.” Gemma gives me a wink.
“Should’ve figured,” I say. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Anytime. And if you ever want to bust his balls, feel free to do it, okay? He kinda deserves it.”
I laugh. “I’m just glad you’re on my team.”
“I’m team KatieandNoah,” she corrects.
“Oh God. Don't even start with that again! We’re not fifteen anymore,” I scold but laugh at the memories.
Gemma glances over her shoulder, then leaves. I take a moment to myself before following. When I finally walk through the door, I nearly run into Noah. His hands grip my arms, holding me steady on my feet. We look at each other in shock, and it takes everything I have to push past him.
Before I get too far, he gently grabs my elbow and pulls me back.
“Katie, please talk to me,” he begs in a deep, rough voice.
Shaking my head, I pull away from him. “No thanks. I have nothing to say to you.”
“Please,” he pleads again, this time in a husky whisper.
“I’ve been begging to talk to you for ten fucking years. Sono, Noah, you don't get my time when it’s convenient for you. Should’ve thought about that when you refused to let me visit or write me back. I waited around for you long enough, and I’m not wasting any more time on you.”
He looks as if I slapped him, the same reaction I imagine he had on my porch when I slammed the door in his face. It hurts to see him this way, but he left me no choice.
Without another word, I walk across the reception hall and tell Owen it's time to go.
After we say our goodbyes, I notice Noah’s staring at me, but I keep my eyes forward and walk out with as much dignity as I can.
CHAPTEREIGHT
NOAH
Though it’s beenfour days since Katie and I had a run-in, I can still feel her verbal slap. I know I don’t deserve her attention, but I’m not giving up. If she wants to cuss me out after I’ve explained my side of the story and apologized, then I’ll walk away peacefully. But until then, I’ll fight for just five minutes of her time. Our friendship was strong before, and it can be that way again if she’d give us a chance.
When I got home that night, I found a box of pictures and old yearbooks. After pouring myself a glass of whiskey, I went through them. Pictures of Katie and I goofing off, taking road trips and hikes, every homecoming and prom. We always exchanged yearbooks first, and in her freshman one, I almost confessed my feelings but chickened out. That’s the summer Gabe moved to town, and they started dating.
I find the first one of mine she ever signed and smile as I read her handwriting.
My dearest Noah,
Thanks for helping me get through my first year of high school. Though I had Gemma and Everleigh’s support, you made sure I had fun at football games and sent me flowers so my Valentine’s Day wasn’t lame. Can’t wait to hang out all summer and make even more memories :-)
Love,
“Your Girl” for life (haha)
I snort at how she ended her message as the memory of our inside joke surfaces. We were together so much that people assumed we were dating, so I would openly call her my girl. After correcting it the first ten times, we stopped and let them think whatever they wanted. When she didn’t say anything about it, I figured she was sick of telling people we were only friends, but I wonder if she secretly felt the same as me.
I find another box in my closet filled with folded-up notebook paper. Katie and I exchanged notes all through middle and high school. They were mostly about silly kid stuff and what we were gonna do after school that day. We’d both gotten caught a handful of times by teachers for writing them in class, but it never stopped us. Sometimes I’d draw funny things just to see her smile and hear her laugh.
Though it’s been years, I wonder if she saved any that I sent her. I have a feeling she had a burn party on my behalf, but a part of me knows she’d never do that, no matter how mad she was.
I’ve been distracted as hell at work for the past two days, and I need to get my head on straight so I don’t make any mistakes on the job. It’s the middle of the week, and as we get closer to the re-opening, there’s more stress to get everything done and the equipment built on time.
As I drive closer to the gym, I notice Sheriff Todd parked out front. Tyler and Smith are outside, but I can’t see what’s going on.
Once I hop out of the truck, I rush over and notice the broken glass on the sidewalk. The big front window is completely smashed in.
