“It sounds silly to say out loud.”
“Nothing you say is silly.”
“I’m not ready. I’ve had four years to fuck around, go to classes and work my ass off to earn this degree, but yet, I’m not ready. The thought of starting out in the real world is terrifying.”
“I hate to sound like something from an infomercial, but… You can do anything you set your mind to. You’re going tobe amazing, Jason. Anyone can see that. I’m pretty sure you’re the only reason I’m passing Econ.”
“Liar,” he says, some of his easy humor returning. “You passed the last test with flying colors. I didn’t even have to write the answers on my hand to flash you during the test.”
“Jason!” I scold. “You have never done that.”
“Nope, but I would if you asked.”
I shouldn’t swoon over him offering to help me cheat on a test, but I do. “I won’t ask.” I laugh.
He shrugs, that smile I love so much appearing on his face. “What are you doing tonight?”
I shrink. “Um. I?—”
I’m interrupted by someone sitting in the chair beside me, scooting too close for comfort.
“Hey babe,” the person says. I turn, and realize it’s Brad. We met in the cafeteria a few days ago, and he didn’t really give me much of an option but to take his number. At the use of the pet name, I instantly regret agreeing to a date.
“Uh,” I clear my throat. “Hi, Brad.” I glance between Jason and Brad, regretting my entire existence. Jason looks back and forth, brows furrowing. “Jason, this is Brad.” I don’t introduce him with a title, because how does one say, “Hey, ‘guy I’m totally crushing on but never have a chance with’, here’s the frat boy I agreed to go out with so I can get my mind off you?”
Brad reaches across the table, taking Jason’s hand in a rough shake. I internally wince at my idiocy.
“I was just picking Fallon up for our date,” Brad announces, and I look over at him with wide eyes. I definitely never told him to pick me up at the library. We agreed on my dorm at seven, and it’s barely even six.
Is this some sort of pissing contest he is trying to win?I’m incredulous as I glare at him, begging him to take a hint and leave.
He doesn’t get it.
“Ready, babe?” he asks, standing and offering me his hand. I can do one of two things in this moment. I can go with him, or I can stay with Jason, and let my crush fester.
Do I do the sane thing, and stay with the man who’s been nothing but nice to me? Or do I make the stupidest choice ever and put my hand in the palm of the boy who is wearing a salmon colored polo and khaki shorts in the dead of winter?
Obviously, I do the stupid thing.
The look on Jason’s face as I say goodbye haunts me for weeks. He starts to avoid me, skipping our weekly meetups, only helping if I ask, and barely talking to me during and after class. Eventually, he goes silent altogether.
I swallow the lump in my throat as I push down the memories of that kind young man who helped pull me out of my shell. I was randomly assigned a roommate the next fall, and somehow got lucky and it was Megan. We became best friends, which was also in my favor because Jason and I never got back to what we used to be after that night. After he graduated, I never saw him again. Until tonight.
What am I going to say? Of course I’m going to have to interact with him. There’s no way we won’t. He’s the brother of the groom and in the wedding party. Do I bite the bullet and get it over with? Or do I wait for a natural interaction that’s sure to be awkward as hell?
I take a deep breath as I make my way back to the reception hall. I spot him walking over to the bar. It’s now or never. I might as well do it. He gets another bottle of beer and thanks the bartender with a chin tip. I stride over to him before I can psych myself out of it. I smooth my shirt and silently curse myself for feeling self conscious. I’m not thesame girl I was all those years ago, he probably won’t even recognize me.
I clear my throat as I approach him. He turns, and it’s almost like a punch to the gut. He’s as handsome as he was then. His deep brown eyes are glazed as he takes me in, his gaze roaming up and down my body. “Um, hi, Jason?” I state, clearing my throat again when my voice cracks. “I’m sure you don’t remember me, but, my name is?—”
“Fallon,” Jason breathes my name, recognition arising on his face.
3
JASON
My brother, Thomas, claps me on the back as I take a long pull of my beer. I’m absolutely exhausted. Work was nuts this afternoon, and then I had to rush to the winery to make it to the rehearsal dinner on time. Luckily, my mom was able to stop by my house and grab my daughter, Lennie’s, dresses for this weekend, otherwise, I would have been in deep trouble with my future sister-in-law, Josie. Not really, Josie’s amazing, but still. It would have been an inconvenience, so I’m eternally grateful to my mom for remembering to grab it.
“How’s it feel knowing our youngest brother is going to be the first to get married?” Thomas asks, glancing over at the man in question, Andrew. He’s staring at his wife-to-be with what can only be described as googly eyes. Their love story was a bit fast, but anyone that looks at them knows they’re in love, and meant to be together.
