Page 114 of Sing Your Secrets

And for the first time I think in history, I’ve shut my mother up.

It feels odd, to have the last word.

Slamming the door behind me, I sprint down the driveway to my car. I hold back the tears as the engine roars to life and my Bluetooth finally connects. I try to compose myself as I dial, but the moment I hear his voice the dam breaks loose.

“Will you meet me?” I ask between huffy breaths.

“Reese, what’s wrong?” he asks.

“At our old spot. Remember? Will you meet me there, right now?”

He takes a beat, and I hear his footsteps in the background. “I’m on my way. Are you with Miles?”

“No,” I say. “I need to talk to you, alone, Petey.”

* * *

It’s like I opened a time capsule that just happened to be a wormhole. I dove right in and here we are—almost ten years ago, the exact same scene. Me, sitting on the curb behind the Quikee Fuel gas station, a jumbo slushy in my hand, waiting for Petey to show up.

Provided, the car he’s pulling up in this time is a luxury sports car and not his beat-up Oldsmobile, but still—the sentiment remains. Once upon a time, we were just kids, enjoying the simple things.

Petey throws his car in park and swaggers over to me. Wordlessly, he takes a seat next to me on the filthy sidewalk even though his sweatpants are a pristine beige color.

“I still love that cologne,” I mumble as the savory scent of spice and leather surrounds us.

He smooths his hands over his braids and mutters something I can’t make out under his breath. Sensing the tension between us, I hand him my slushy.

“Damn, you put a dent in this.”

I show him my tongue. “What color?”

“A weird purple-brown.”

“Figures,” I say with a light chuckle. “I mixed every flavor they sell in there. Except for Dr. Pepper.” Because Dr. Pepper pairs with absolutely nothing.

“I can’t believe you still drink these,” Petey says, taking the jumbo-sized Styrofoam cup in my hand. He takes a timid sip, then makes a face and sets it down.

“I don’t. I was just thinking about how many times you told me—right here—that you loved me. How many times you promised we were forever. And I…” I suck in a lung full of air. “I really believed you.”

Like he’s blowing out the breath I’m holding, Petey lets out an exasperated sigh. “I take it you didn’t call me here to tell me you want to give us another go.”

I watch him from the corner of my eye. “Is that what you thought?”

“I hoped.”

I shake my head and fix my eyes on the filthy green dumpsters. “Petey, you have my forgiveness—”

“But he has your heart.”

Meeting his gaze, I nod and I see the sadness in his light eyes. I used to dream about this moment—the day I got to break Petey’s heart right back, but there’s nothing that feels good about this. Why should hearts have to break? Why is the ache and agony necessary? How come we can’t just get it right on the first try?

Petey hooks his finger under my chin and turns my head toward his. My heart races out of control as his eyes fixate on my lips. Please don’t kiss me.Don’t give me a reason to hate you—for Miles to hate you. “Everything I’ve done since I got back has been to get your attention. Leaving my label, buying The Garage, making things right with Mac, being your friend…and even helping Miles. And if that’s still not enough to win your heart back, then I know you’re really gone.” His lips briefly land on my forehead, then he pulls away.

“Was it worth it?”

“Was what worth it?”

“Everything you’ve done for us. Do you regret it because I love Miles?”

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