“You have a lot of explaining to do.”
I groan and slump farther into the booth. “You know.”
She lets out a short laugh and slides into the seat across from me. She brushes her blonde hair off her bare shoulders, revealing a cute little strapless white top.
“How long have I known you? You think you could hide anything from me? ” she teases, rolling her eyes.
The waitress returns. “Can I grab you two some drinks to start?” she asks.
“I’ll take an espresso martini,” Sarah says, clasping her hands together and leaning on the table.
“Vodka with Sprite for me, please,” I add with a smile.
The waitress nods and walks away.
Sarah looks at me, confused. “Since when do you drink those?”
“It kind of became Natheniel’s and I drink back in Toronto,” I say, shaking my head as flashes of us laughing on the couch with our matching drinks fill my mind.
God, I miss him.
“This is so crazy. You two follow me to Toronto—very romantic, by the way—only to…what? Fall for each other?” she says, shaking her head.
“I guess... Wait, how much do you know?”
“Nuh uh. You’re not squeezing info out of me. If you want to talk to Nathan, you can ask him yourself. Have you two even talked since being back?” she asks, folding her arms and leaning back in the booth.
I look down at my palms.
“Anote, Caleb? Seriously?” she says, clearly referring to the sorry excuse of a goodbye I left him at the hotel.
I’ve got some things to take care of. Sorry for running off. I’ll be in touch. – Caleb
“You don’t understand. I had to leave. My dad bought me a plane ticket, and I didn’t have a choice.”
She groans and rolls her eyes. Just then, the waitress sets down our drinks.
“Just the drinks, thanks,” I say with a polite smile. She nods and walks off.
“Caleb… you know that has nothing to do with it. Phones exist. A call, a text—anythingto let him know you weren’t just disappearing,” Sarah says, taking a long sip.
I follow suit, her words echoing in my mind.
“You don’t think I know that? I messed up. Again. That’s all I ever seem to do when it comes to him. First, stealing you away, and now this. I can’t win.”
She holds up a finger and waves it. “Nope. I call bullshit.”
“What?”
“You’re self-sabotaging. You do this when you care about someone. I should know, you’ve done it to me many many times. Well, I’m not giving you the satisfaction of throwing your little pity party.”
I hold up my hands in fake surrender. “Woah, Sarah. Ouch. Don’t feel the need to hold back,” I say sarcastically.
“Well, you have to hear this. I’m not letting you ruin something good again. Not this time. We both hurt Nathan prom night, not just you. And you know what I did? I owned it.I apologized.You should’ve done that too. He’s one of the most honest people I’ve ever met. He would’ve forgiven you.”
I frown, confused. “Why? Why do you care so much now?”
She softens. “Because Igetit now. Of course that was the reason you did what you did. It’s the reason you’re doing it now. You two are soulmates. Two halves of a whole. There’s something between you that’s undeniable—it’s been there all along. And you’re scared, Caleb. It makes sense then and I see it in your eyes now. You’re in love. You always have been.”
