Page 38 of Minus

“Speaking of which. Drink?” I asked.

“How can I say no, when I know my uncle is paying?” She smiled, and I swear to God it felt like my heart was being squeezed.

I turned to our server, “Champagne for the lady, something incredibly old, and awfully expensive. And I’ll have—”

“A vodka martini; shaken, not stirred,” she said.

I laughed and replied, “Extra olives please.”

Our server left us, and for the moment we were alone. Something Cricket and I had not been for a long time.

I cleared my throat nervously.

“So, look. Here’s the thing. I’ve got a lot to say, and to be honest with you, I’m not quite sure where to start. You said on the phone that you had some questions for me, so how about we start there?”

“You sure you don’t want to wait for your drink?” she asked.

“I think I’m good, ask me anything,” I replied.

“You sure?”

“I’m sure. Fire away.”

“Okay, then. Why did you abandon me, disappear completely from my life, and shatter my heart into a million pieces? How do you sleep at night being such a cold, heartless monster? Why in the hell have you come back into my life, and how soon will you be leaving?”

Just then, our server appeared with Cricket’s champagne and my martini, which he placed in front of me.

“Thank God,” I said. “I’m gonna need this, after all. In fact, go ahead and bring me another.”

“What happened to you being a perfect gentleman?” she chided.

“Would you settle for animperfectgentleman?”

“Jase.”

I gave our server a nod, and he replied with, “I’ll give you two a little time with the menus, and come back for your dinner selections,” before disappearing.

“I’m sorry, that was kind of a lot to lay on me all at once. You’re gonna have to gimme a minute to make some sense of all of it.”

“What part do you need clarification on?” she asked, then sipped her champagne. The tip of her tongue slipped over her upper lip briefly and I felt my zipper press against my hardening dick.

“Well, all of it. Being as the root of your feelings seems to be based on some sort of notion that I walked out on you.”

Cricket’s face flushed with the red I remember seeing whenever she was about to rip me a new one. “Root of myfeelings? Anotion?” she ground out. “What other words can I use? Youleftme, Jase. One day, you packed up and moved to Georgia, and I never heard from you again. We had been together for almost a year. You were my first love.” She stopped there, as tears filled her eyes. She shook her head and stared out the window.

I reached for her hand. “Cricket, I—”

“No.” She pulled her hand away. “Don’t touch me. I can’t handle you touching me, or being sweet, or charming. I’m angry at you, and I don’t know why I’m even here. And… and… I hate you.” Cricket folded her arms and slumped down in her seat, avoiding eye contact.

“I never abandoned you,” I said. “Please believe me when I tell you I had no choice in moving to Savannah.”

“No choice? A chance to move up in the ranks comes along and you take it, but you’re telling me you had no choice?” she hissed.

I frowned. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I know all about why you moved to Savannah. Cutter offered you a deal and you, took it, regardless of what it cost me.”

“Cricket, I’m not sure what you think you know, but you’re wrong. I was forced out by Cutter, mostly because of your brother.”

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