Ben, across the table, is seething. “Jake, are you fucking serious?”
We all grew up together. He knows. Everyone knows.
84
Jake glances at him, lights a cigarette, Ice cold, “Ben, since when are you Emily’s BFF? Why’re you jumping in?” He looks at me, then back to
his girl. “Babe, wait outside. Too loud. I’ll take
you somewhere quieter.”
She goes, a quick, nervous look at him.
He’s gone, and Jake turns to me. “Emily, this
was between us. Why get everyone on my back
about marriage?” He blows a smoke ring,
smiles coldly. “Never said you were my
girlfriend, did 1?”
Eight years. I stare at that face, now a
<
3:38
Ben jumps up. “Jake, you’re a fucking asshole!”
I grab his arm. He spits out, “If you wanted to break up, be a man about it. Don’t humiliate
her!”
Jake’s eyes are glacial. “Ben, sticking up for her so much, you into her? Fine, take her. I’m over it. After all these years, I’m bored.”
Right then, Chris, silent Chris in the corner,
slams his glass down. Shattered. Everyone
stares.
Chris, the quiet, cool guy. When I moved in with
the Walkers at twelve, he was the one I was
most wary of. Serious, reserved. Never reacted
to Jake and me, good times or bad. Now this.
He glares at Jake. “You’ve crossed a line.”
“Oh? You gonna preach now?” Jake sneers.
<
3:38
“My business, and everyone’s suddenly an expert. Emily, congrats on your manipulation
skills.”
84
He’d said that before, when I was sixteen.
Someone left a love letter in my locker. My birthday. He smirked. “Cheesy shit from the
he’d quarterback.” Later, everyone gone, cornered me in my room, kissed me. Gentle,
then nuzzled my neck. “Emily, you’re mine. No
one else. Just me.” Back then, like a lost puppy,
so vulnerable.
I look down. The contrast stings. I know it’s
over.
“Jake,” I say, “let’s clear this up. Since we’re all
here.”
He stubs out his cigarette. “Go on.”
Eyes burning, I meet his gaze. “Like you said,
nothing between us. We’re done.”
3:38
84
Jake’s hand, gripping his glass, is white- knuckled. “Emily, you’re dumping me?”
I dig my nails into my palms. “You have a girlfriend. Shouldn’t we, you know, keep things
professional?”
I flash back to seventeen. Taking him his jacket
after practice. Head cheerleader corners him.
“Jake, I’ve liked you since junior high. Go out
with me.”
I hide. Hear him, cold as ice. “So? Move.”
She grabs his arm, tears in her eyes. “Don’t be
mean! You’ll break my heart!”
Zero sympathy. He pulls away. “I have someone.
Isn’t it normal to, like, not hit on other people?”
She’s heartbroken, tears streaming. “Go,” Jake
says. “Don’t want my girl getting jealous. I can’t
handle that.”
3:38
84
She runs off. I think, He’s ruthless. He’s behind
me, arms around me. “Seen enough? Not gonna
compliment me?”
“You’re brutal,” I say.
He grins, cocky. “Emily, ‘cause I only love you. So, you’re mine. Got it?” He kisses me, all teenage boy and mint gum. I understand what it
feels like to be someone’s everything.
Jake seems to remember too. He’s silent.
I take off his ring. His mom’s, a family heirloom,
he gave me at 22. Insisted I wear it.
“Jake, here’s your ring.”
He frowns. Looks up, lips trembling. “Don’t take
back gifts.”
“It’s not right,” I say, setting it down.
