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When he gets up to take a call from his parents, Quinn slides into his seat. We’re laughing about a commercial when the whole table goes silent. Nate’s eyes grow wide across from me.
“Hey, guys,” a sugary sweet voice says from behind and my stomach drops.
I turn around, and Holli is standing with another beautiful woman. Her eyes roam around the table, and when they land on me darken a bit. She plasters on a fake smile. “Nate! Your baby sister is visiting. How sweet.”
No one says anything to her, and the silence becomes awkward.
“Sweetie, I don’t remember your name. There was so much going on when we met.”
What a bitch. I may not be memorable, but I did send her a condolence card. Quinn nudges my back, forcing me to talk. “Devon. My name is Devon, and this is my friend Quinn.”
“That’s right. How are you?”
“I’m doing well, thanks.”
“Bryce didn’t mention you visiting Nate when I saw him yesterday. How long are you staying?”
Her statement causes a few chuckles from the guys at the table. Nate even smirks at me, knowing this girl is humiliating herself. Oddly, I don’t feel insecure at her indication she and Bryce talk.
As if on cue, Bryce walks back to the table, oblivious to Holli and her friend, and wraps his arms around me from behind. When he kisses my neck, she lets out an anguished cry. He raises his face and squeezes me protectively when he sees her.
The scene becomes very uncomfortable, and I see everyone looking around, pretending not to watch what could be the train-wreck in front of us.
Holli straightens her back and replaces her fake smile. She says hi to Bryce politely and then makes an excuse to leave the table. She waves goodbye, and I notice her lips tremble slightly.
Quinn starts laughing, and the group follows her.
“That was uncomfortable. Why didn’t any of you guys jump in and talk to her?”
“Because if we did, she would take it as an invitation to stick around. We learned our lesson a long time ago. Usually, she only approaches us when Bryce is around, but she must have been curious who the two girls were sitting here,” Nate answers.
“I personally enjoyed every second. Bryce, you should have seen the look on her face when she wanted to know how long we were staying,” Quinn pipes in.
“You okay?” Bryce massages my shoulders gently.
“Absolutely.”
“Come to the restroom with me.” Quinn tugs me out of my chair and pulls me along behind her. She’s been afraid of this day for a long time.
I yank on her arm to stop her when we get to the hallway. “I’m really okay,” I confirm.
She stares me intently in the eyes, and then her gaze roams over my face. She nods her head in silent approval. “Well, I still have to go to the bathroom.” She smiles and pushes open the door.
What I see next breaks my heart. Holli is leaned into her friend, bawling uncontrollably. Sobs wrack her shoulders as she sniffs and moans. Her friend is rubbing her back trying to console her. Memories of me in that same position cloud my mind, and I back out of the small room quietly, hoping she doesn’t know I was there. Quinn follows me back to the table where everything is back to normal. Suddenly, though, I’m not in the mood to be here.
“Bryce, can we go?”
“Why?” He looks at me worriedly.
“I’ll tell you in the car, but we should leave.”
He throws some money on the table, and we say goodbye to the guys. I take Nate to the side and tell him what I just witnessed. He offers to bring Quinn home later since she wants to stay.
When we get in Bryce’s truck, I tell him about Holli’s breakdown.
He blows out a deep breath and lays his head back against the seat. “What am I supposed to do, Devon? It’s been a long time. What you just saw was exactly what I went through for weeks after we lost the baby. I swear to you, I’ve never given her any indication there was another chance for us.”
“I believe you, Bryce, but she’s in shock right now. You may have told her you were seeing someone, but I’m not sure she knew how serious it was. Knowing it’s me, she has to realize this isn’t casual. Too much at stake with friendships and families. I don’t care for her one bit and spent many a night in the same position I found her in. But it felt cruel to flaunt in front of her.”
