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“Pumpkins,” I finish for her, and when her eyes light up… damn, I could kick myself. Because this time they’re shining with happiness as she talks about her favorite holiday, and it’s like a knife to my gut. I’m not supposed to care about her anymore. Which, sure, I always will in a way, but it’ll never be the way it was.
“Yeah, you know I have to win the contest.” She laughs, popping a french fry into her mouth.
“How many years have you won now?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Three in a row.” Her warning tone amuses me, the fire in her eyes igniting a fire in my own.
“Oh, that’s right. Someone else won before, right?” I bring my hand to my face, mimicking The Thinker pose with my fist under my chin.
“You shush right now, Jack. You know it was by a damn millimeter. Could have been a slip of the tape.”
I burst out laughing then, slapping my knee. My chuckles fill the room. “Oh, one year. You lost one year, Rachel, seriously.”
“Hey, it’s a big deal to me. You know that!”
“I only grew the damn pumpkin to spend time with you,” I retort before finishing off my food.
We each take a sip of wine, knowing our truce has now ended because the meal is done.
THREE
As Jack pushes his plate away, I down the last of my wine. I’ve had two glasses, so I’ll be fine to drive home, but he’s had four. And he’s always been a lightweight. Well, he was. I guess that could have changed, but when his eyes meet mine, he seems stone-cold sober.
“Rachel, I’m going to be really honest with you.”
“Well, it’s about fucking time.” I lean back in my chair, folding my hands over my chest.
His eyes drop to my chest before jerking back to my face, and I won’t lie, the triumph of distracting him is euphoric.
He takes a deep breath before sighing theatrically. “Parker was in love with you.”
My ears hear his words, but my brain doesn’t really compute them for a moment. Parker, my best friend. We all went through high school together. When it all clicks, I shake my head.
“No, he wasn’t.”
Jack clenches his fists and turns his body toward me again, sitting the same way we were before Chester brought our food. He flattens his hands on his legs with a smack, leaning forward. His face is inches from mine, our eyes locked. “Rachel,” he whispers. “Parker fucking Scott was in love with you. I saw it the first time I found him in my seat on that damn school bus.”
I remember that day as if it were only yesterday. It was Halloween, my grandfather had been sick, and Jack rarely rode the bus home anymore because of football shit. Football shit was his dream, but it always seemed to be in the way ofmydreams. I didn’t have feelings for Jack then, not romantic ones. Not that I was aware of, anyway. But I knew our friendship was shifting.
“Jack, don’t be ridiculous. Parker was just a good friend.”
“Was?” He quirks an eyebrow at me, and my cheeks burn under his fiery gaze.
“Well…”
“Well?” he counters, watching me inquisitively.
“He’s married now, and his wife didn’t… approve of us being friends.”
“Oh, and why is that?”
“I’m not sure, really. I didn’t feel like I ever gave her a reason. I’m not interested in Parker like that.”
“Probably because she knew he had feelings for you.” Jack smacks the table, our dishes clattering with the force of impact.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a respect thing, that’s all.”
“So he never did anything or said anything after I left?”
