Page 42 of An Uphill Battle

“Nope, fuck this,” she mutters under her breath, but loud enough for us to hear. “Mom, Pops, let’s go eat. I’m sure they have our table ready, and I’m sure Drake and his date have”—she waves her hand in our direction—“stuff to do. Let’s go!” Azalea grabs her mom by the purse strap and all but drags her toward the table they always reserve when they eathere.

I start to head for the door, but Mr. Barnes clears his throat, bringing me up short. “Son, I’m not sure what’s goin’ on, but use your brain. Please? One of y’all hasto.”

Giving him a terse nod, I point Kasey back toward the exit, and we silently walk to mytruck.

“Wanna explain to me what just happened?” she asks, sounding reasonablyannoyed.

I mull over my words, wondering how I should play this. I could tell her that she’s no one important, but fuck if my brain won’t send the words to my mouth. So, I settle on the truth, as painful as it may be. “That was my... everything.” My words shock us both, because I swear on my life, I meant to say ex, but “everything” just popped right onout.

“I’m sorry,what?”

“Thing is, Kasey, I just came out of a really long, really rough relationship. Hell, I’m not even sure it could be called a relationship, but that woman has my ass tied up in knots, and if I’m bein’ honest, I’m not really over her or even sure I’m ready to try and be overher.”

I’m not sure what sort of reaction I was anticipating, but I’m pleasantly surprised when she beams her pearly whites at me and nods. “Story of my life. Man, I sure know how to pick ’em. Well, Drake, as much as I wish you were on the market, I get it. I really do. I’m recently single too, and my breakup was bad enough that it caused me to move here from the next countyover.”

“Aren’t we a pair? So, friends?” I ask her, a hopeful smile resting on mylips.

“Yeah, Drake, friends.” She laughs, and it lights up her entire face, just like Azalea when she—Stop, Drake, just stop.“You know, you might just be the hottest friend I’ve ever had. If you decide you’re ready for something more, even a rebound, you let meknow.”

Smirking at her forwardness, I tell her, “Sure will. But for now, the only thing I’m really wantin’ right now is some icecream.”

* * *

ItakeKasey to my favorite ice cream shop, Scoops,where the ice cream is made in-house from local ingredients. To call it good is an understatement. I order a triple-scoop of chocolate in a waffle cone and Kasey gets a single of strawberry in a sugarcone.

“You wanna eat in here, or in my truck?” I ask, watching her lick away at hercone.

“Here’s fine. It’s nice andtoasty.”

We post up at a table in the corner, and I’m two scoops in when Kasey finally speaks up. “What’s the story with you andblondie?”

“Long. It’s a longstory.”

She looks around the empty parlor, her eyes comically wide. “What else’ve we got todo?”

“Guess you’re right. Okay, let’s see, short version? I’ve loved her since I was sixteen. We both’ve made some stupid choices. I suck at communicating, and she’s stuck in the past. Things recently blew up between us, and I’m learning to navigate life without the one person I planned on spending itwith.”

“Alrighty then,” Kasey says through hersmile.

“Are you laughin’ at me?” I ask her, crunching into mycone.

“Maybe alittle.”

“You think you’ll ever get overher?”

“Honestly? No. Idon’t.”

Frowning, Kasey reaches across the table for my hand. It startles me, because damn, we just agreed to be friends. “Sometimes, it takes knowing what you’re missing to figure out you missit.”

“I’m not followin’,” I tellher.

“I’m just saying, if you ever wanna make her jealous—you know, show her what she lost—I’ll helpyou.”

“No. No way. Stupid games are what got us in thismess.”

“Okay, Drake, that’s fine. Just thought I’d offer.” She stands from the booth, and I follow suit, both of us beelining for mytruck.

“Guess I’ll take you back to your carnow?”

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