Page 75 of Nodus Tollens
Me: Before you say no, I miss you. A fuck ton. Like a crazy, unhealthy amount.
Blue: I miss you too, Hayes… but why would I say no?
I don’t have a good feeling about this. At all. I’m about eighty percent sure she will say no, and although it doesn’t really matter whether she goes or not, I really fucking want her to.
Me: My best friend Mal, the one I’ve mentioned to you before, needs a little distraction tonight… and I told him we could all go out to Dog Prarie to keep his mind off things. Have a few drinks, and he could finally meet you… What do you say?
“Your girl goin’ or what?” He glanced over at me with a ‘What’s the plan’ look, causing my irritation to bubble up.
“I’m working on it.” I grunted. “I don’t think bars are really her scene.” I watched my phone with laser focus, waiting for her to respond. When two minutes passed, I began to sweat.
Then finally, a text came through.
Blue: Hell, yes! I will totally be there. I’ll bring Kate too
A burst of laughter escaped me. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that this wasn’t Blue who had texted me.
Me: Glad to hear that you’ll come, Kate. Now can you try to convince my girl to go with you? Tell her I’ll make it worth her while.
Blue: Don’t worry, Decker. I got your girl off the bed, and she’s getting ready as we speak. And make it worth her while, huh? Better be something extra good and extra special.
Me: Oh, I got something extra good and extra special up my sleeve.
Blue: It’s me now…. And please, don’t feel the need to do anything extra good or special. Kate’s just joking.
Me: Well, baby, when you’re with me, I plan on making every day special.
Blue: Hmm, special, huh? I guess I’ll be the judge of that.
Me: ;) Guess so. Drive safe. I’ll see you when you get here.
“Alright, she’s coming.” I grinned and peered over at his expressionless face.
“Great.” He sounded less than thrilled, but I had high hopes I could get him out of his funk.
Or at least I hoped I could.
18
WREN
Iwas way out of my element here. Just like at the rally, I felt uneasy with every unconfident step I took inside the old run-down bar. This was one of Sutton U’s finest establishments, where you’d find a majority of the college crowd while the rest were regulars. Dog Prairie wasn’t just a bar to Sutton U. It was a historic landmark to the people and students who lived here. It held a legacy of its own, just as our school did, and although I’ve only ventured here once in my three years of being here, I respected it. It wasn’t my scene, not in the least, but for Hayes, I would at least try.
Even if I hated it. Even if I felt uncomfortable. At least, I would have him next to me.
I didn’t have much time to get ready before Kate began pushing us out the door. My hair was left down and in waves, after I had pulled it out of a bun. A baggy sweatshirt was thrown over my shirt, and I left my black leggings on, refusing to change into jeans. I was comfortable, and for some reason, I wasn’t worried about Hayes’ reaction to seeing me so underdressed. I wanted him to see the normal everyday me. Date and hockey game me were entirely different than the regular me. Regular me was concealed and comfy.
All that was missing was my baseball cap.
Kate, of course, went all out in the ten-minute time frame she gave us. In a tight red top and some dark skinny jeans, she looked like a movie star. I still was in awe at how she made her hair look so beautiful and her makeup look flawless. It was baffling. But I had a feeling she had her hopes up that a certain hockey player with the last name Hendricks would be here.
For her sake, I hoped he was.
She deserved to talk to him after this magical act of going from bum to superstar in under ten minutes. I needed a good hour to look halfway decent.
“I think I see Hayes, but I can’t tell if it’s actually him or not…” Kate mumbled beside me as we weaved our way through the crowd. Frowning, I pulled out my phone from my sweatshirt pocket and opened mine and Hayes’ message thread.
Me: We’re here. Where are you?
