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Why did I have to see one of Penelope’s friends out of all the people there?
Taking a deep breath, I slow down instead, turning to face the guy.
“What?”
Prescott slows down, and he doesn’t even seem winded from running. He watches me for a moment before tipping his chin in my direction. “You okay?”
Do I look fucking okay?
“Fine,” I bite out, wanting this to be over already. “Did you need anything?”
“I’m not going to say anything. To Penelope or anybody else. What happens in NA stays in NA.”
I replay his words in my mind, and it takes my brain a moment to realize what he’s saying—to understand the full implication of his words.
Because he wasn’t there for shits and giggles, he was at the meeting because he’s an addict.
Like me.
Some of the animosity leaves my body, my muscles relaxing, if only slightly.
“Sorry.” I run my hand over my face, pushing the sweaty strands back. “Today was a shit day, and I’m new to…” I wave in the general direction of the church where the meeting was held. “All of this.”
Prescott nods. “I get it, I really do. It’s good you came to the meeting.” If I expect him to probe into my issues, I have another thing coming. “Want to get out of here? Go and grab a drink?”
My throat goes dry at the mention of a drink. And not for water either, for something stronger. Much, much stronger.
“I don’t really drink.”
“I don’t either. I cut it out when I stopped taking pain meds.”
I do a double take, unsure if he’s messing with me. Prescott catches me staring and chuckles.
“I was injured during my junior year. I tried to push through, but…” He shrugs, shoving his hands into his pockets. “If you don’t want to do it, it’s fine. I understand everybody has a different way of dealing with things.”
“No, that’s not…”
I’m not sure how to explain it. He’s shared such an intimate part of himself with me, and a part of me felt the need to do the same. But how could I? He got addicted to pain meds so he could keep playing the sport he obviously loves. I’ve chosen to indulge in heavy drugs to tempt destiny into seeing if I can outsmart it, unlike my father. Our stories were completely different.
Before I can finish, Prescott pulls his phone out of his pocket, a small smile curling the corner of his mouth as he shakes his head and quickly types something back before sliding the phone back in place.
He looks up, his eyes meeting mine. “Jade. They’re having a girl’s night, and they are determined to show Penny a good time.”
That gets my attention. “They’re out?”
Prescott nods. “They’re at a party. I promised I’d pick them up and walk them home once they decided they were done. Jade doesn’t drink, but I don’t like them walking home alone at night.”
A girl’s night.
Penelope’s message makes much more sense now.
And not just any girl’s night.
She’s tackling another item on the list.
On her own.
“I have time before I have to meet them, but if you don’t want to grab a drink, I get it. I can go to the party instead. I’m sure some of the guys are there.”
