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Aaron
I barely slept last night. All I thought about was Rae. Fixing things with her. I’m sure this is the part of a romance movie where the guy has to grovel. But it’s not only me who messed up. Hell yes, I need to apologize, but she’s not innocent, either. We need to talk. Really talk. And hear each other.
Now I’m sitting on the top step of the deck, the present I got for her in my hand, waiting for her to get home.
Time to put it all on the line.
I hear laughter coming from the driveway and then a moment of quiet before the gate opens. I look up, and our eyes meet. Her lips pull into a flat line, but she doesn’t look angry. Of course, she doesn’t look happy to see me, either.
“Hi,” I say, standing up.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, pushing past me and heading for the window.
“I need to talk to you.” I follow her to the window. “Everything is a mess and—” I stop short as I realize she’s wearing a shirt with Jesse’s name on the back. My heart clenches.
She spins to face me, looking impatient.
Attempting to shake off the intense pain and jealousy coursing through me, I continue. “There’s a lot I want to apologize for. I came over with coffee first thing this morning, but you weren’t here.”
“Oh. I stayed with Jesse.” Then her eyes widen and she clamps her mouth shut.
“Did you sleep with him?” I blurt out, my biggest fear taking over before I can think about what I’m saying.
She stares at me, anger growing in her eyes.
Here we go again.
“Are you freaking kidding me? In what world is thatanyof your business?”
I hold up my hands. As much as it hurts, she’s right. It’s not. And I didn’t even mean to ask.
“You’re right. I—that just came out.”
She shakes her head and turns toward the window. “I need to shower—”
“Wait,” I say, gently grabbing her arm. “Please. I’m sorry.”
She spins back to me, fire in her eyes again. “Oh. Really? For what? Actually, let me give you a list and you can pick. First, you kissed me on your truck after the baseball game, then disappeared. Then, you took Caity to homecoming but told me I was the one you wanted to end the night with, but two weeks later, you started dating her even though you knew you had feelings for me. When you finally broke up with her, you didn’t talk to me about it. Then you crossed all kinds of lines, everything broke, but hell, that wasn’t enough! You had to be all over Caity atmybirthday party. Then, when I was finally having fun, you lost your mind and punched Jesse in the face! What were you thinking? He needed four stitches! And your hand…” My eyes jolt to her hand as she brushes her fingers against mine, her eyes filled with pain. “You could’ve hurt it even more.” She shakes her head, stepping back from me. “And now you’re here, still trying to talk to me about something. God knows what, because I have no idea what to say to you at this point, but there are your options. Do tell. Which would you like to discuss?”
She’s shaking with anger, though her eyes show how broken she feels. Like her, I don’t know what to say.
Instead, I hold the present out to her. “I’m sorry I was a dick at your party. And for so much else. There’s more I want to say, but I guess now isn’t the right time.” Sighing, I say, “This is for you. Happy birthday.”
She stares at it like it might bite her, then slides her window open, refusing to take it.
“I don’t want it.” Then she climbs inside.
As she reaches to shut the window, I slide it through, setting it on the chest under the window. “Take it anyway.”
There’s the tiniest pause, then the window slams shut, the lock clicks, and the curtain closes.
Like everything else lately, that didn’t go how I wanted it to.
Tired and defeated, I make my way home, wondering what happens now. I’ve tried to talk to her. Tried to apologize. Every time, it goes like shit. I guess it’s up to her now.
Except it’s not. Because I’ll never forgive myself if we don’t figure our shit out.
Rae
