Page 54 of Forever Mine
Jay looks like he wants to punch the shit out of me, but his anguish comes through loud and clear.
“That’s what you think I did? Controlled her?”
I opened the door. Can’t close it now.
“In a way, yes. You were so afraid of not being the one she chose that you pushed Ry and me out and basically erected a barbwire fence around her. She was my best friend, and I hardly got to spend time with her because you’d pitch a shit fit if she wasn’t tied to your damn hip twenty-four-seven.”
“She’s my girlfriend. Of course I want to spend all my time with her.”
“Lizwasyour girlfriend. And you just proved my point.”
He angrily flips his cap around to face backward on his head. “Have I ever complained about how much time you spend with Elijah?”
Oh my god. It’s like arguing with a five-year-old.
“Elijah has nothing to do with this. We’re talking about you and Liz.”
Knowing exactly where to twist the knife, he replies, “Elijah gave up Stanford for you.”
The enormous guilt I will always carry about that has my words flying out carelessly, taking aim at my brother.
“Ever wonder why she has memories of Ry but none of you?” And god dammit, I regret saying it as soon as it comes out of my mouth. “Shit.Shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
I reach for him, but he smacks my hand away.
“One day, she’s going to remember.”
He gets up and runs over to catch the frisbee Ryder just flung to Liz.
Elijah cups his hands to his mouth. “Babe! Two on three. You’re on my team.”
I motion for him to play without me.
Liz breaks from the group and jogs over. Her smiling face turns serious when she notices the seriousness in mine.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really.”
“Stay there,” she says and goes back over to Ry, whispering something in his ear. He nods and tosses the frisbee to Jay, who almost misses it because he’s scowling at me.
Liz returns, grabs my wrists, and pulls me up. “Come with me,” she says and leads me in the opposite direction from where the guys are. “Okay, we’re far enough away. Talk.”
I plow my big toe through the sand. “Just stuff with Jay. He said some things. I said some things back. We’ll get over it.”
Her long, pink-tipped braid blows sideways in the wind, and she flips it over her shoulder. “Anything I can do?”
I wish it was that simple.
Shoving my hands deep into the side pockets of my board shorts, I gaze across the diamond-cut surface of the green Atlantic waters.
“Jay can be difficult. Today is just one of his days to be difficult with me.”
Liz nods her head in agreement, and I laugh.
“He hasn’t made things easy for you.”
Biting her lip, she casts her gaze toward the dunes. “He’s been less pushy lately, so there’s that.” Acting like the subject is closed, she takes my hand. “Let’s go for a walk.”
