Page 92 of Best I Never Had

“Anyway,” she continues. “We broke up after that.”

“You did?”

She nods. “We were so young and so wrong for each other,” she explains. “And…I didn’t want to be second fiddle to anyone.”

“Jenny,” I say, doing my best to sound apologetic, even though I didn’t know all of this happened. “Hayden and I were always just friends. There was never anything going on.”

“I know.” She lifts her hand to graze my arm, giving it an assuring squeeze. “But he saw you as more than that.”

Her baby starts to wail just then, clawing at his mom’s shoulders as he turns to bury his face into her neck. “Oop, someone’s getting a little fussy,” she says, nuzzling her face into her baby’s hair. “I should get him down for a nap.”

“Yeah,” I answer. “It was nice seeing you.”

“You too, Natalia.”

37

Hayden

senior year

My brain feels foggy,slightly muddled from the alcohol. What’s that age-old saying? Beer before liquor? Or is it liquor before beer? I guess it doesn’t really matter at this point. I’ve already consumed what feels like half of the keg sitting outside Toby’s parents’ lake house. And I’ve lost track of the shots of Jack I’ve taken in between those Solo cups of beer.

I’m walking through the kitchen, my steps heavy and lazy, making my way toward one of the coolers lined up against the wall when I’m stopped by Jenny.

“Hayden!” she squeals. “Oh my god! I can’t believe how drunk I am!”

I lean forward, risking my balance as I dig through the chips of ice for a bottle of water. I chug, emptying the entire bottle as Jenny tosses back her own red cup filled with who knows what. As soon as the refreshing water hits my stomach, I already feel better. I reach for a second and a third, extending one of them to Jenny. She takes ithastily before placing it on the counter nearest to her instead of drinking it.

“I think I want another beer,” she slurs, her eyes hooded as her hand lazily runs up my stomach. “Can you get me one?” She bats her eyes at me with a crooked smile.

I nod, peering above her head in the direction of the keg sitting outside. As I walk away from Jenny, my steps are less draggy, more purposeful. As if Jenny approaching me for more than a simple request for beer brought on a moment of clarity, a moment where I needed to wear a layer of armor so I didn’t fall for her advances.

Just as I approach the keg, I notice Natalia walking toward the dock out back where it’s settled under an awning and overlooking the dark water behind the lake house. I step away from the keg, leaving behind Jenny and her subliminal request for more than beer. I follow Natalia’s path to find that she’s leaned up against the railing facing the water.

“Hey, Marquez,” I call as I take the last step onto the wood planks. She turns to look over her shoulder, smiling an easy, relaxed smile. Almost as if she’s been expecting me. “I didn’t think you were the post-grad partying type.”

“Yuri dragged me,” she answers, sliding over to make room for me. I sidle up to her, brushing my arm against hers.

“So how does it feel to be an official high school graduate?” I ask, lightly nudging her.

“Outlandish,” she says with a small hum. “You?”

“Underwhelming.”

She chuckles. “Did you expect trumpets and fireworks when you walked off that stage?”

“I did,” I jokingly admit. “So what are your plans for the summer?”

Her shoulders roll back, and her back straightens before she turns to face me. “I’m heading out to New York next month.”

“Already?” I question, my smile disappearing instantly.

She nods. “My sister’salready out there, so she said I could stay with her until the semester starts. Get to know the city and settle into my dorm a week or two before my first day on campus.”

I smile a small smile, exhaling a smirk. “Beavercreek’s going to miss you.”

“Beavercreek? Or you?” She tilts her head in my direction, her cheek leaning against her turned-up shoulder as she smiles shyly at me.

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