Page 56 of Those Summer Nights (Sweet Cravings 2)

"I want you back." His words hung there.

He wanted me back? After cheating on me? Humiliating me? Abandoning me? Fuck him. "It's too late." I hung up the phone.

Chapter 17

Monday

“You’re getting really good at this,” Kristen said from beside me.

“Thanks.” I picked up my pace even more. I’d decided that a broken heart could go one of two ways. You could eat your feelings and get a permanent food baby. Or you could get buns of steel by working out non-stop with the queen of fitness herself. This time I was going with the latter and I truly felt amazing. Physically at least. Mentally, I was a freaking mess.

But I actually liked running, which was the strangest combination of words ever. Ever since the game of touch football, I’d been running with Kristen every morning bright and early. I was like a machine.

“So…have you talked to J.J. yet?”

That was the only bad thing about running with Kristen. She loved talking the whole time. I don’t know how she managed breathing through the workout and speaking at the same time. Maybe she was a genie. “No, not really. He stopped by the shop a few days ago but I was busy.”

“Right…binge watching Project Runway. You need to talk to him.”

“And say what exactly? That I’m madly in love with him?”

“Are you madly in love with him?”

My sneakers made a squishing sound in the wet sand. It was like the beach was trying to make me admit the truth. “I don’t know. Maybe. But it doesn’t really matter.”

“Of course it matters.”

“I’m not going to set myself up to be hurt again.” I tried to focus on my stride.

“That’s kind of what taking a chance at love is. Putting yourself out there even though it might end up with you getting hurt.”

I sighed and my pace seemed to slow. “And that’s why I’m just going to avoid love completely.” If I couldn’t have J.J., there wasn’t anyone else I wanted anyway. There was an impenetrable iron wall around my heart now. Period.

“And what about your date tonight?”

“It’s not a date.” At least, it wasn’t to me. Maybe it was to Reggie. I never should have agreed to go with him. What had I been thinking?

“Are you sure about that? It kinda seemed like he asked you out.”

“I’m sure.” I wasn’t, but I had just gotten an amazing idea. A wonderful, terrible, perfect idea. “And you should come. It’ll be more fun if you’re there.”

“I was going to call in for another shift…”

“Come on. It’ll be fun.”

“Being a third whee

l is never fun. But…I do kind of want to go. I just didn’t have anyone to go with.”

I suddenly felt really guilty. I should have turned Reggie down days ago and just asked Kristen to go with me. What had I been thinking? I wasn’t the only one in a love pickle. The lifeguard she had been dating turned out to be an asshole too. With a girlfriend no less. And here I was, trying to throw a pity party for one when it could easily be two. “Then come with us! Pretty please?”

She laughed. “You’re sure it’s okay? Reggie won’t be weirded out?”

“Of course! I mean, of course he won’t be weirded out and of course it’s okay.” It would at least help me avoid an awkward conversation with Reggie. I couldn’t go on a real date with him. All I did was think about J.J. It wouldn’t be fair. Besides, it would be more fun if Kristen came. Maybe she and Reggie would hit it off. In a strange way, I was actually doing them both a favor. I had sworn off love, but Kristen hadn’t. This was going to be perfect.

“Is J.J. going to be there?”

My pace was starting to slow as a cramp spread along my left abdomen. I wasn’t sure if it was caused by running or thinking about my lifeguard. I missed him. And I hated how much I missed him. But I had no way of talking to him. I couldn't just show up at his apartment. I didn't want to walk in on him with the blonde girl. Or some other girl. I couldn't take that again.

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