Page 35 of Run
“Absolutely nothing,” I tell him honestly, propping my arms behind my head while Fonz rests his chin on his fists. “How’s farm life?”
He chuckles. “Hard. It’s friggin’ hard, Ari. I never knew my dad worked so hard!” We both laugh, but I know he’s happy. He tells me how he’s learning to operate the big machinery. Then I fill him in on the latest at school and how Chloe and her teamof bitches aren’t in too many of my classes this semester and therefore leave me alone.
In the midst of rehashing my dinner with Sophie, his phone buzzes on the nightstand next to us. I see the name “E-Man” flash across the screen and my stomach constricts.
“Sorry,” Fonz mutters. “I’ll send him a quick text to let him know I’ll call later.”
I’m quiet for a minute. “Sorry you always have to lie to him.”
Fonz shakes his head while typing out a text. “It’s better this way. He’s doing his thing. I’m actually going to visit him in two weekends. I want to see him before he goes to basic.”
“Basic?”
“Yeah, basic training … Oh, shit! I must not have told you. Ethan enlisted in the Army.”
“He what?!” I shoot up. “Why? Why would he do that?”
Fonz sits up next to me. “Nah, it’s a good situation. He doesn’t really like college. He only signed up again this semester to keep his parents happy. And, well, to stay near Jules. Anyway, with the Army, he can still pursue a degree, which the government will pay for. And his parents will be off his back. He’s gonna go for IT or graphics or something like that.”
Fonz must sense the panic rolling off me. “It’s not like we’re in a war, right now, Ari. This is a good deal.”
I nod, swallowing. “What about Jules?” I feel like a child for asking about Ethan’s girlfriend but, dammit, I want to know.
“They’re gonna do long distance. He really likes her.”
I smile although it kills me. “That’s nice.”
“Wanna see a picture?”Just shove my heart in a mulcher, why don’t you?
He unlocks his phone and scrolls a bit. “Here.” Fonz leans over so I can see the screen. It’s a selfie of Fonz, Ethan, and a brunette.
My eyes first zero in on Ethan. I take the phone and zoom in. “Wow.” His hair is cropped short to his head, and he’s grown in stature, with shoulders that look massive as his arms are slung around Fonz and Jules. But it’s his face that really gets me. He’s smiling from ear to ear, and it definitely reaches his eyes. He looks happy.
And that miserable rotten bitch inside me feels a pang of jealousy—and then immediate guilt. This is what I want. For him to be happy.
Fonz clears his throat. “Yeah, our boy’s really growing up.”
I zoom in on the girl they’re with. She’s pretty. Shoulder-length brown hair frames a heart-shaped face, and a cute, black dress hugs her body. I hand the phone back over to Fonz. “How long did you say they’ve been together?”
“Uh, they started dating right after he got there. So, almost a year now?”
I nod and swallow down my jealousy. Then I change the freaking subject. “What about you? How come I never see any ladies coming over here, huh?” I bump his shoulder with mine.
He chuckles. “Eh, guess I haven’t really found anyone who tickles my fancy.” I laugh at that old adage. “And you? You’re stillhanging outwith Sean?” he asks with disdain.
“Fonz, you know I’m not sleeping with him.”
“Oh, I know, because he tells the whole town what he does and doesn’t do and with whom.”
Several months ago, Sean had come into the pub while I was working. I was surprised he even remembered me. Turns out, after graduation he also enrolled in community college. He sat and chatted me up until closing time so I wouldn’t have to leave the bar alone. When we got to my car, he kept talking, so we sat inside since it was cool out—me in the driver’s seat, him on the passenger side. He lit a joint, but I told him I don’t drink or smoke—not after how I’d seen it affect Axel.
“You know, Ari, you can always call me.” Sean’s eyes were glazed from the pot. “Here, let me text you my number.”
I rattled off my number and a moment later my phone pinged. “That’s me. Call me sometime, yeah? We can hang out, or something …”
I nodded.
Suddenly, Sean reached a hand out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I always thought your red hair was sexy as hell.”
