Chapter 38
Stop Petting Me
Robert’s eyes go wide again. "So he's a badass biker dude and he was your first?" He drops his head onto the couch. "Shit, Adrian’s screwed."
I smack him on his chest. "What are you talking about?"
He turns to look at me, brow raised. "Are you going to tell me you haven't thought about how fast you can walk away from Adrian if Jackie boy wants another roll in the sack?
No, I hadn’t thought of that. A few months ago, maybe I would’ve considered letting Jack back into my life, but now… now I just want Adrian.
“Do you want to hear the story or not?" I ask, not wanting to dissect my feelings for Adrian.
Robert nods like an anxious puppy. “Shit yes I do."
"Okay, so he stayed in town I started school and he got a job working with a construction company, but he spent most of his free time practicing guitar, even when I was around. He wanted desperately to hit it big in the music world, but he was realistic about the chances."
Robert groans. "He plays guitar too?"
I ignore his question. "Then one day, he’s gone. I get a text saying he has some things to take care of and he probably won't be back. Not even an ‘I’m sorry I'll miss you terribly, I'll call you soon.’ Nothing. I go to his mom’s house and the only thing I get from her is a look of sadness as if she’s seen it a hundred times."
I knew that first day he wasn’t coming back, but as a love-struck teen, it was my right to believe he’d come back to me.
Robert reaches over and pets my head again. "Oh honey, I'm sorry."
I reach up and smack his hand. "Stop petting me. I'm not a damn dog."
Robert holds up both hands. "I'm sorry, but I've got to be honest, I don't know how to take care of you." He wiggles his fingers at me in some uber gay gesture. "I mean, shit girl, you should be all whiny and crying about shit like this. I just don't know what to do.”
"Shut up and listen okay?" I snap.
Robert huffs. "You don't have to be mean about it."
"Well, I'm certainly not going to admit to crying over him, especially now," I say, gesturing wildly. "But, I was a mess for a while after he left.” That’s the understatement of the century, but Robert doesn’t need to know the rest. Only a couple of people know the story of my life after Jack Maxwell drove away that spring.
"What’s he been up to?" Robert asks, interrupting my memories.
"I don't know. I haven't talked to him since he left that day." How is this not obvious to him?
"And you haven't Googled him?"
I wrinkle my nose. “Why would I do that?"
"Oh honey, then you were never truly in love. Me,” he says, pointing to himself, “I’ve Googled all of my exes, and the big love of my life, well, I check his Facebook status at least once a week. You know, that way if he checks in someplace maybe I can drop by.”
This sounds like an episode of Stalker.
He opens his laptop and begins typing, oblivious to my concern for his mental health.
“First let's start with his Facebook page." He turns to look at me. "I'm guessing you're not friends with him since you have no idea what he's been up to." I shake my head. Robert sighs and shakes his head.
"Girl, you know you’re kind of a disappointment to the female race."
"Because I don't stalk my ex-boyfriend's?"
"Yes, that's exactly why." He turns to look at me from head to toe. He gestures at my chest. "And because you have that amazing body and you don't use it to manipulate men."
We find nothing but his Facebook page, and he has his privacy pretty tight. If I want answers, I’m gonna have to see him.
"Well, what are you going to tell Jackie boy?” Robert asks, slamming his laptop closed.
“I’m going to tell him yes.” As much as it hurt when he left, I need answers and there are some things I need to tell him too.
Robert tilts his head in challenge. “How’s Adrian gonna feel about this?”
I sigh and drop my face into my hands. “Like a jealous psychopath,” I answer. Hopefully, this new development in our relationship will help him to feel less threatened by my ex-boyfriend coming to visit.