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When a call came in at the fire station for a person-versus-vehicle accident, I jumped in the ambulance without a second thought. What no one ever talked about was the fact that when a firefighter answers a call in a small town, it was your friends. Neighbors. Your girlfriend.
I was the first on the scene, and Margo died in my arms.
Emma sighed as silence stretched between us. “You two dated in high school and then through your time in the service?” she finally asked.
I nodded. “Junior and senior year, yeah, we were pretty hot and heavy. So when I enlisted, we stayed together. I really only saw her on the rare occasion I was back home, but we wrote letters back and forth a lot.” I thought back to that time, when those letters were the only things keeping me sane through my time overseas. “It wasn’t until I was away that we figured it out. Those letters are what made me fall so head over heels for her. Before that, it was your typical high school kid drama. Young kids too dumb to know what they were doing. But in those letters something changed. I think we both matured.”
Tears were thick in Emma’s voice. “That’s so romantic.”
“It didn’t last. We were back to bickering and drama the minute I was home. It wasn’t even two months after I was back that she was gone.” A cynical laugh escaped me. “So much for romantic.”
Emma stared. I cleared my throat and swiped my hand down my face. “Jesus fuck, I’m sorry, I don’t know why I just spilled all that.”
Emma looked at me, her eyes narrowing. “Are you still in love with her?”
I couldn’t tell you why the image of Annie’s face immediately came to mind, but I quickly brushed it aside. “With Margo?” I shook my head. “No. I realized a long time ago that what we had and what Ithoughtwe had were two very different things. The girl I dated and the woman who wrote me letters were like two completely different people. Once I was back, I couldn’t reconcile the two, and things just fell apart.”
“So what’s the problem then?”
Her soft voice encouraged me to keep going. I shrugged. “It’s a small town with big opinions. I couldn’t escape everyone constantly reminding me about her or reminiscing about our love story. And seeing her parents all the time? It was brutal. It makes me sound like an asshole, but I was so relieved when they moved away.”
“A small town with big opinions.” Emma scoffed. “They need to change the welcome sign tothat. It’s far more accurate.”
I nodded and scoffed in agreement.
Emma sighed. “Sounds to me like holding on to her memory is a safety net. It makes sure you never let anyone get too close. Maybe it’s a little too convenient to lean into the wholePoor heartbroken Lee. Can you blame him for being unable to commit?”
It was something I hadn’t ever considered, but her words settled over me. We sat in silence as I considered her fresh insight.
Finally, Emma bumped her shoulder affectionately into mine. “Fuck ’em.”
I raised my eyebrows at her.
Her smile spread wide. “I refuse to let the opinions of others rule my life. I suggest you do the same.”
Wanting to talk about anything other than myself, I looked down at Emma. “So now that I’ve unloaded all my emotional baggage on you, let’s hear it,” I said. “What’syourdeal?”
Emma shrugged and smiled a sly smile. “I don’t have a deal. I’m perfect in every way.”
I smiled back with a playful roll of my eyes. “Clearly.”
Emma lifted a shoulder. “In reality, I’m a romantic at heart. I’m waiting for my Prince Charming to come whisk me off my feet. Someone I can laugh with. Amazing sex, that’s a must. Someone I can be my true self around, where I don’t have to hide anything.”
My mind immediately flew to Annie. She was the only person who ever got a glimpse of the real me, but I buried the thought. “Youarea romantic. I hope you find him.”
“Thanks,” she said with a smile. “I will. One day. I’m sorry I can’t go with you to the gala.” She shrugged. “Prince Charming and all.”
“No, it’s okay. I totally understand. Besides, I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of true love.”
NINE
ANNIE
I stareddown at the text message on my phone. My heart sank into my belly like it did every year when I received the text.
Mrs. Weaver
Happy birthday, Annie! Margo is smiling down on you.
