Page 43 of From This Moment (After We Fall 4)
“So what happened?” I asked.
“She refused to give up on me.” Jack shook his head, like he still couldn’t believe it. “She just had it in her head that we were supposed to be together and nothing I did or said would convince her otherwise.”
“But he wanted her, too,” Pete added. “He just wouldn’t admit it.”
“So how did she finally convince you?” I wondered.
“She left. Packed up all her shit and went home. Left me here to brood alone forever, and it didn’t take long for me to realize that was a stupid choice.”
I nodded, imagining the elegant blond Margot throwing old-fashioned suitcases into her car and taking off down the highway, while Jack stood there frowning by the side of the road. It actually seemed kind of comical.
I was probably drunk.
“Fuck, you guys. I need to call it a night. I can’t drink like I used to.” I got off my stool, and the floor didn’t seem as floorish as it should have. It wobbled a little.
They both groaned their agreement, although neither of them had drunk as much as I had.
“Can I hitch a ride home with one of you?” I asked. “I’m sorry, I know it’s out of your way, but I shouldn’t drive.”
“Of course,” Jack said. “We drove together, and it’s no problem. I’d much rather go out of our way than risk it.”
I climbed into the back of Pete’s car, feeling sort of like this was high school again, and we were going out looking for girls, beer, and trouble. All three had been easy to find with Drew around. I glanced at the empty seat next to me, then quickly looked out the window.
At my parents’ house, Pete pulled up to the front door. “Man, I haven’t been here in years. You guys had some pretty cool parties on the beach back in the day.”
“We did.” I nodded. “We should do it again. You can bring your wives and kids.” I’ll invite my sister-in-law, the one I’m secretly in love with, and she can bring her daughter, the one I wish was mine.
“Sounds good.”
I thanked them for the ride and got out, giving them a wave once I’d let myself in the front door.
But I didn’t feel like being there.
The great room was dark, which meant my parents had already gone up to bed, so it wasn’t that I’d have to deal with them, but I was too agitated to sit still, let alone sleep. I turned around and walked out again, locking the door behind me.
I knew where I was going, but I didn’t admit it right away.
I walked leisurely, careful to stay on the highway shoulder, breathing deeply, letting the cool night air and the miles of road ahead of me sober me up. I told myself I was just getting a little fresh air and exercise in order to tire myself out, kill the buzz, quiet my mind. When I turned into Hannah’s neighborhood, I had to face the truth. I wanted to see her. I needed to see her.
I needed more than that—I needed her to understand why I’d stopped her last night, that it wasn’t because I didn’t want her. I wanted her more than anything.
All I needed was a second chance to prove it.
Nine
HANNAH
This week it was my turn to stun everyone at Wine with Widows.
“I threw myself at Wes,” I told them. We were sitting around Tess’s kitchen table, and she nearly spilled the zinfandel she was pouring.
“What?” She straightened up. “What do you mean, you threw yourself at him?”
“Picture one of the dragons from Game of Thrones swooping down on someone, breathing fire, wings outstretched. That was basically me.” I shuddered at the memory of flying across the kitchen at him.
“When?” Grace asked.
“Monday night. He had the good sense to stop things before they went too far—before they went anywhere, really. But it was totally embarrassing. Worse than the time I cried in my fajitas at Applebee’s.”
