Page 7 of What If It Was Us
They were twirling around the room using the mops as microphones, and when the last bridge of the song began, both of them dropped to their knees to belt out the words. When it was done, I clapped dramatically for them as they stood and bowed for me.
Jackson cleaned the men’s bathroom while us girls cleaned the women’s, then we met in the kitchen to unplug Jackson’s phone from the speaker.
“And look at that, we’re already done with closing. We don’t even need to listen to the last song Julie picked,” Jackson said with a wicked grin.
Julie let out a long, exaggerated laugh. “Guess we’ll just have to listen to it on the way home! And you can sit in the middle!”
Jackson stuck his tongue out at Julie before grabbing my backpack off its hook and handing it to me.
“When he picks music first, he purposely chooses long songs so that we never make it to all of mine.” She bent down to whisper in my ear, “Jokes on him because the only CDs in my car are Taylor Swift.”
Julie locked up the back door, and I followed them to her truck. It was one of those old trucks that didn’t have backseats, so Jackson really did have to sit between us. Our thighs were touching, and I tried my hardest not to hyperfocus on that bit of contact. Julie drove around to the front of the street where my bike was still leaning against the rack.
“I’ll get it,” Jackson said before I could open the passenger door. He crawled over me to get out of the truck, and I felt frozen to the seat as his bangs swiped across my forehead on his way out. I tried to act nonchalant, like that closeness didn’t send me completely off-kilter. I looked over at Julie without moving my head, but she was just mouthing along to the song she had started playing.
I watched in the side mirror as Jackson picked up my bike and placed it in the bed of the truck. His biceps were illuminated under the streetlights, and I swallowed in an attempt to get the sudden dryness out of my throat. When I saw him walking back toward the car, I hurried to jump out for him before he could crawl over me again.
We didn’t speak on the way home; the two of them continued to sing along theatrically to the music, and I just pointed out where to turn when needed. When they pulled into my driveway, I was relieved to see that Peter’s car was gone. He was probably out at a bar. “Thanks for the ride.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow! Have two songs ready!” Julie said.
I hopped out of the truck but before I could shut the door, Jackson stopped it with his arm, jumping out after me and getting my bike out of the truck bed before I could even protest.
“Thanks,” I said as he followed me to the side of the house. “You can just leave it behind the gate.”
I crossed my arms as Jackson fixed his wavy hair.
“Have a good night, Addie. It was really nice meeting you.”
I nodded back, trying to calm down that fizziness that reappeared in my stomach. “See you tomorrow, Jackson.”
He smiled at me before walking back to Julie’s truck. I waved at both of them from the front porch as they backed out, and I could hear the faint sound of Julie’s music as they drove down the block.
I smiled—for the first time since Mom left, I felt like things might actually be okay.
Chapter 3
NOW
June
Goddammit. Sophie was still fucking gorgeous. Her red hair was pinned up, her curtain bangs framing her face. She was wearing a long, flowy white dress that made her blue eyes pop. The blush on her cheeks made her look like a perfect porcelain doll. I looked like a sewer rat compared to her. My white-blonde hair was stringy and loose down my back, and I had been sweating all through my drive from North Carolina. My ratty hoodie and biker shorts weren’t much help, either. I don’t even think my Converse were laced.
“Hey, Sophie. You look great,” I said, hoping the cheeriness in my voice sounded real.
She smiled at me, and we both knew it was fake.
“Addison. What a surprise to see you.” She didn’t even sound like a bitch when she said it—just confused and intrigued. Her eyes moved from Jackson to me, waiting for one of us to explain.
“I’m on my way out, actually. Congrats on your engagement!” My voice chirped so high I would’ve laughed if I wasn’t absolutely mortified.
I squeezed between the two of them, not able to breathe until I was out the front door. I stepped on one of my untied laces, almost eating shit on the concrete. That sure would’ve been the cherry on top.
“Hey—hey, wait up!” My hand was on the handle of my car door, and I so badly wanted to pretend I didn’t hear Jackson running after me.Act natural.
I turned around, leaning back against my car.
“You’re getting married,” I managed to choke out with a smile. “That’s amazing. Sophie Waters. You guys were always such a great couple.” Lie, lie, lie.
