His Reverie (Reverie #1)(31)

That is so not me.

I wish it were though. I wish I were sexy and confident. Just for Nick though.

Just for Nick.

18

Longing: strong and persistent desire or craving

July 10th

I did nothing on my two days off but think of Reverie.

Oh, I did other stuff. Mindless, sometimes stupid stuff. I washed my truck. Got drunk Saturday night with Michael when he came over with a bottle of tequila and margarita mix plus a blender. Who travels around with a blender?

Michael, that’s who.

The massive hangover from all the tequila just about did me in come Sunday morning. I felt like absolute shit when I first woke up, my head pounding, my mouth as dry as cotton balls and my stomach protesting every time I even thought about food.

So I was lazy and watched TV all day. Even found Reverend Hale on his Sunday televangelist show, punching his fist in the air after every word he said, like some sort of weird, gotta-drive-my-point-home punctuation. He was talking about the youth of today. How they don’t listen. How they think they know everything and refuse to respect their elders. How they don’t follow the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ and think they’re invincible.

I wonder who he’s referring to. The episode is a repeat, they take the summer off, but something must’ve set him off for that sermon. I can’t help but wonder if it was his son. Evan. That guy is constantly doing whatever the hell he wants and doesn’t give a damn what his parents think. And no way can he be talking about Reverie. She’s the perfect girl. I think she’s scared to death to disappoint them.

Her spending even a minute of time with me would surely disappoint them. That’s why we have to keep what we’re doing secret. I don’t even know what exactly I’m doing. I should’ve never kissed her in the stables. I still feel like a jerk for just leaving her there, never saying anything to her again.

She probably hates me. She should.

Late in the afternoon there’s a knock on my door and I automatically think it’s Krista. No one else comes over unannounced. Michael always calls or texts me first and I don’t really have any other friends, not anymore. Krista needs the element of surprise on her side because she knows I’m avoiding her as much as possible.

So when I decide f**k it and throw open the door fully expecting to find a half naked Krista waiting for me, imagine my surprise when I see David standing in front of me.

David. My former best friend, he was like a brother to me. The guy I would do anything for. The kid who lied and said I was with him that one night when we supposedly beat a man to death after going on a drunken binge. The one whose lies sunk me, sent me to jail, cost my mom money she didn’t have and nearly ruined my life.

Yeah. That David.

I don’t say a word, start to shut the door on him but he throws his hand out, blocking me. Fucker was always stronger than me too. Broader, bulkier, though I got him beat in height. Didn’t help me in situations like this though.

“Move,” I practically growl, not letting my eyes meet his because damn it, I don’t even want to look at this ass**le.

“We need to talk,” David says, his palm flat against my front door, his body leaning slightly forward. He’s putting all his weight into holding that door open and I’m putting all of my weight into trying to close the damn thing.

And I’m freaking losing which frustrates me even more.

“I have nothing to say to you,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Well, I have plenty to say to you. Stop being such a stubborn ass and let me in so I can tell you,” David says.

Curiosity washes over me and I wish I could quell it. But…I can’t. I want to hear what he has to say. I need to hear an apology, a reason why, something so I can start to understand why he did what he did.

If I can ever understand what he did. I don’t know if that’s possible.

Giving in, I move away from the door and David practically falls inside, stumbling forward before he catches himself and stands up straight. I slam the door behind him, hoping like hell Krista doesn’t know he’s here. She’d run right over if she found out.

Something I absolutely do not want to deal with right now.

“You’ve got ten minutes,” I say as I turn to face him, my arms crossed in front of my chest. I’m trying my best to look tough while facing my former best friend for the first time in years, wearing a battered old T-shirt and equally battered shorts, both having seen better days.

“Ten minutes?” David thrusts a hand through his black hair, sending it straight into chaos. An old tell that lets me know he’s nervous.

Oddly reassuring since I am too.

“And the clock is ticking,” I say with a nod.

“Fine.” He blows out a harsh breath before he starts talking in earnest. “I’m really sorry. I heard about your mom and how you uh, lost her.” He pauses, sounding a little choked up. “She meant a lot to me and it about broke my heart to hear she was sick.”

I swallow hard, past the swell of emotion threatening me. “How’d you find out?”

“My dad.” David shakes his head and collapses in the chair closest to him. Mom’s old chair. How fitting. “I cried when he told me.”

“Are your tears supposed to make me feel better? Give me some sort of peace since I lost her?” I feel like a jerk for saying it but come on. “At least I was able to be with her during her last few months.” No thanks to your lies putting me in jail in the first place.