Page 115 of Wild Love
With a nod, they exit. Just in time, too, because I start to cry all over again when the doors close between us.
I call Reagan, tears running down my face as my best friend’s concerned gaze fills the screen.
“Oh, honey,” she says, then her features harden. “Who do I need to kill?”
“Me. I fucked everything up.”
“I’m booking a flight.” She stands from the bed. The familiarity of it all tugs at my emotions.
“No, don’t. I’m coming home.”
Her smile is tinged with sadness. “You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“Okay,” she says. “I’ll be here.”
37
Johnny
Jack triesto take my empty glass from me to refill it, but I motion to the bottle in his hand. “Don’t be stingy.”
“Are you sure she left?” he asks after handing over the half-empty bottle of Don Julio.
“The only thing left in her room is the furniture,” I say.
I was at the jewelry store trying to pick out a ring when Declan called to say that he and Leo had seen her in the elevator crying, and I just knew. By the time I got back to the apartment, she was gone. I came here, not really sure where to go or what to do. It’s all my fucking fault.
“I couldn’t keep it to myself for one more week,” I say. I feel like someone reached in and ripped out my heart, stomped on it, and then tried to put it back.
“What did compel you to post a picture of her mostly naked except those little red shoes, obviously in bed with you.”
“Stupidity. Maybe love.”
“Hand in hand, my friend.”
“Where do you think she went?”
“If I had to guess, Valley. Maybe Kansas to see her dad.”
“Did you call her?”
“About a hundred times.” I drink from the bottle, spilling a lot of it on my bare chest. No idea where my shirt went. I think I ripped it off and said something about not being able to contain my emotions. I’m a sad case. I can’t believe she left. All I got was a Dear Johnny note that saidThanks for a great summer.
“Okay. Now you’re not even making it in your mouth.” He takes the bottle back from me. “I’ve got some Patron around here somewhere if you’re just going to waste it.”
“What do I do, captain?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Couldn’t hurt.”
“Forget about her. Focus on hockey. Want me to call some girls?”
“Scratch that. Worst advice ever. Got any Mad Dog?”
“Yeah.” He laughs. “I bought a couple of bottles.”
