I smile but say nothing.
A slow, mischievous grin creeps over Tori’s face. “So, you wouldn’t be willing to throw a girl a bone, would you? Tell me all about it?”
I give her a sad smile. “It’s nothing you’d want to hear about.”
Her eyes get big as saucers. “Are you kidding me? Laney, I’ve wanted to be on that guy’s radar since kindergarten!”
I grin. “You have not.”
She gives me a dubious look. “Laney. Come on. You know I developed early . . .”
She makes a good point. “For you and your hormones, kindergarten is probably right.”
Tori gets a wistful look on her face and stares out into space. “Ahhh, the third grader that woke my sleeping body . . .”
That makes me giggle. “I don’t think even you were quite that bad.”
Tori palms her generous chest and gives them a shake. “I had boobs by the time I was nine. Trust me, everything else was just as early.” Smiling, I just shake my head at her. “So come on. Spill.”
I feel my smile die. What happened between me and Jake wasn’t just a sexy sidetrack in my life. Sharing it with Tori would just make it feel dirty and . . . well . . . just less. “Nah, there’s nothing really to spill.” I fiddle with the edge of the sheet, avoiding her eyes.
I hear her gasp as she grabs my hand and stills it. “You didn’t fall in love with him, did you?”
My eyes sting. Even Tori thinks I made a mistake. Is it so impossible that Jake could ever love someone like me?
It must be.
Tori says nothing for a couple of long minutes, minutes that give me time to collect myself.
“You know, Laney, I was thinking about the stuff with Shane. I hate to even bring it up again, but maybe you should just forget everything I said, forget everything that happened and give the guy another chance. I don’t want for you to miss out on your happy ending because of what I did or what I think. That’s a decision you need to make on your own, without my help and input.”
I growl in frustration. “Not you, too!”
“I’m not saying you should marry the guy or take him back with open arms. I’m just saying that maybe you ought to at least give it one more chance. See how you feel. See how things go. I couldn’t live with myself if I thought I cost you the dream you’ve had since childhood.”
I meet Tori’s bright, sincere blue eyes. People have always said we look a lot alike, only Tori’s more vibrant. I know most meant it with regard to coloring, but I’ve always felt like I pale in comparison to her in every way. Shane choosing a free spirit like her only underscored it.
But now, just because I don’t want to be the sweet goody-goody anymore doesn’t mean I’m cut out to be vibrant like her. Someone who could ever hold the interest of Jake. Maybe I was overreaching by thinking someone like him could settle down with someone like me. Or settle down at all.
“Maybe my dream changed, Tor.”
She gives my hand a squeeze. “Just make sure, Laney. Make sure you’re doing things for the right reasons. Don’t let me sway you. Or your dad. Or anyone else. Do what makes you happy.”
Already, a plan is forming in my mind. I lean forward, giving my friend a smile. “You know what would make me happy?”
“What’s that?”
“A birthday party.”
“You’re in the hospital, Laney. I hardly think—”
“I mean when I get out. A belated birthday party.”
Tori’s face lights up. “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.”
TWENTY-TWO: Jake
It’s been well over a week since I’ve seen or talked to Laney. There’s a guy at the market who knows her dad, and he says she’s recovering very well so I know she’s fine. And I know I’m doing the right thing by keeping my distance, but she’s not making it easy.
I listen to her message. She left several earlier on, each of which was light and fun, even though I know she was bothered by my sudden disappearance. But this one is the only one I’ve listened to more than once. This is the one that’s tempting me. It came in after I hadn’t heard from her for a day or two. And the tone is just . . . different.
Hey, Jake. It’s Laney. Since my leg is doing so much better, I got out of the hospital yesterday. One of my friends is throwing me a little belated birthday party at Lucky’s Thursday night. I hope you can come. I’d like to buy you a drink before I leave.
Before she leaves. She’s going back home. Back to her real life. The life she had before she met me. She’s ready to move on. Surely it would be all right for me to go and have one drink with her, wish her a happy birthday.
Surely.
I don’t call her back, but I already know where I’ll be Thursday night.
Saying my good-byes.
TWENTY-THREE: Laney
My leg looks almost totally back to normal. The swelling around my knee is almost gone. Gone enough for me to wear a cute little skirt.
I know I shouldn’t be setting myself up this way—wearing a skirt just because Jake always said he loved my legs, hoping to spur him into a confession of love if I make one first—but I can’t help it. I’ve never really taken any huge risks in life until I met Jake. And this is the most important one of all. I have to tell him how I feel. Even though I cringe at the thought of making a fool of myself, I have to do it. I might not get another chance. When things are settled up with the orchard, Jake might leave, and I’ll never be able to track him down. It’s now or never.
And I choose now.
Because I can’t stand the thought of living with the never.
Putting a few more curls in my hair and then piling it all up on top of my head, I spray some perfume at my throat, give my lips a coat of gloss, and then make my way to the door.
I guess this is as ready as I’ll ever be.
TWENTY-FOUR: Jake
When I walk through the door at Lucky’s, I search the crowd for Laney’s familiar blond head. She’s at a table in the corner, laughing with some friends. There are eight or ten people there with her. Some look like faces I remember seeing in high school. Maybe in one of the classes behind me. Probably Laney’s age.
I make my way to the bar. I see several familiar faces here. This was my element before I left, starting with my first fake ID that everyone knew was fake, but didn’t care. I always ran with the older, wilder crowd.
“Well, if it isn’t Jake Theopolis,” the girl behind the bar purrs. Her name is Lila something. She’s a good ten years older than me. We had a thing when I was still in high school. I’m sure she had “things” with a lot of guys around town. “Where you been, sugah?”
I slide onto a bar stool. “Around. Working mostly. Gimme a beer. Whatever you’ve got on tap is fine.”
Her heavily made-up green eyes flicker back to me several times as she pours my beer. “This one’s on the house,” she says, placing it on a napkin in front of me. “Call it a welcome home present. The first of a few.” She winks at me, which tells me that one of my presents will be her. Naked. Riding me like a wild stallion. I remember that about her. She likes it on top.
Unbidden, a vision of Laney on top of me interrupts. I frown.
Damn the woman!
I glance over at her table. She’s preoccupied with her company. I’ll wait and talk to her when she’s alone. Or at least a little more alone.