Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 126602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
I loved going out with a theme, especially when it didn’t require shopping to find something appropriate. I’d had my little black, strapless number I was wearing for years. It was a favorite of mine.
It made my butt look amazing, it somehow gave me curves I knew I did not have, and it stayed up, which was always a delight when dealing with something strapless.
Everyone was looking great. And everyone was here, except for Kali, who was out on her first official date with Cole.
I was hoping she was having fun. Kali deserved it. She was sweet and worked hard for her son, who didn’t have much in terms of a father figure. He was a giant, cheating loser.
The only other one of us who had any kids was Jenna. And Brian, Syd’s guy, was babysitting them so she could go out with us tonight. I thought that was really cool of him.
“Well, I have to say,” Jenna began, “I’ve never seen you two together, but…it definitely sounds like he’s interested in you. He was clearly jealous.”
“Clearly. Jealous,” Tori echoed, looking at me with knowing eyes, and then sipping her drink.
They were referring to the Patrick–Sean meeting that had taken place in my apartment two nights ago, before my spectacular ride. Really, I just wanted to talk about that. I’d like to relive it.
“He was not jealous of Patrick,” I argued. “Can’t be jealous when you’re not interested, and he’s not interested.”
“Fill me in on why he’s not interested again,” Jenna requested.
God, this was not what I wanted to discuss. Maybe I’d just subtly change the subject…
“You know what’s amazing about riding on the back of a bike?” I asked the table.
Tori stared at me, then smiled at Jenna and informed her, “Jamie had a party last year, Shay invited Stitch, and he blew her off.”
I dropped my head back and groaned.
“What?” Tori asked. “That’s what happened.”
She was not wrong. And I wasn’t groaning because she was not wrong. I was groaning because it killed me thinking about this.
And now, I wasn’t only going to be thinking about the biggest rejection of my life, but I was also going to be talking about it. This would involve rehashing that nightmare and all the feelings I felt that day, which would lead to me feelings those feelings all over again.
Great.
“Okay, yes, that’s what happened. Fine. And there’s your proof, right there.” I looked at Jenna. “You see? He can’t be jealous because he isn’t interested in me like that. I asked him out and Sean made it really, really clear he didn’t want to go out with me—I waited for him outside after work, he knew I was waiting for him, and he didn’t even look at me when he walked out. He just left. Turned and left. Did not look back. So, trust me when I say, he isn’t interested.”
Pain circled my heart. Ignoring it was a lost cause, so I didn’t even bother. I just felt it.
“Well then, what about throwing away the flowers?” Syd asked.
I looked at her. “I don’t know. Maybe he just hates flowers.”
It was an honest guess. Sean wasn’t exactly the type of guy to have a line of credit going at 1-800-flowers. Maybe he had a bad experience with a florist once. I didn’t know.
“Come on, Shay.” This plea came from Tori.
“Come on what?” I asked, my voice raising and drawing attention from the patrons around us.
I shouldn’t have been yelling, but there were a lot of emotions involved here, and I was not one to keep a good hold on my emotions, I never had been, no matter if I was in a public place or not.
“Just admit to the possibility of Sean being jealous,” Tori pleaded.
“He doesn’t like me like that,” I snapped. “We’re just friends. I’m his buddy, that’s it. And you know what? Being his friend means a lot to me, because I can see just how much it means to him. I’ve come to the conclusion that, aside from his ex, nobody was ever good to him. Ever. I’m talking not even when he was a little kid. Take a second and think about that. He thinks he’s nothing, because people told him that over and over until it stuck. And I’m doing everything I can and will continue doing everything I can to convince him that he is someone who matters and means something, and not just to me. I’ll be his friend. I’ll be whatever he needs me to be. And if that means I have to bury my feelings for him and never, ever act on them, then so be it. Sean’s self-worth matters more to me anyway.”
I drained my Creamsicle, then pointed at the waitress walking past our booth. “Yo! Can I get another?” I asked her.