Chapter 42
California Called
I drive to the restaurant because riding on the back of his motorcycle was not an option. I ask him to drive separate, mostly to appease Adrian if he’s watching.
Once we’re seated and place our orders with the waitress, I jump right in, unable to do the small talk thing.
"Well, you have me intrigued. You said you have a lot of things to tell me."
His lips turn up on one side, causing flashbacks. I can remember lying under him, and him giving me that same adoring smile.
"Before I start running down all the things I want to tell you, I'm sure you must have questions. I mean, I didn’t leave under the best terms?”
And… guess who now owns the Mr. Obvious title?
I let out a long breath. “You mean, like I don't know, what the hell happened three years ago when you walked away and I never heard from you again?"
His expression looks pained. "Yeah, kinda like that." He leans back in the booth and runs a hand through his hair. "I was a selfish, immature jackass who was dead set on chasing a dream, regardless of who he left behind."
He looks sad. I’m not sure what I expected from him, but sadness wasn’t it.
"A couple days before I left,” he goes on, “I got a call from a guy out in California who was looking for a lead guitar. I knew I would miss you like crazy, but I told him yes and started making the arrangements right away. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to tell me not to go. I knew if you started crying I wouldn’t leave.”
Because he’d been looking to find a band to play with, I had wondered if that’s why he’d left. No reason I came up with, except another girl, could explain why he never called.
"Why did you never call?"
He sighs. “The gig in California didn't work out, but I didn't stop looking. I was more determined than ever to make a career in a band. I knew that if I called you and you asked me to come back, I would. I wasn't going to live the rest of my life working for some construction company, I would've been miserable." He shrugs, looking remorseful. “Mostly, I was ashamed with how I’d left and didn’t know how to fix it.”
I lean forward, placing my elbows on the table. “Jack, we were kids. I wasn't talking about a future, and if I recall, neither were you."
This is true. We had thought we were in love, even said it to each other every day, but we never talked about what happened after I graduated. I can’t say how I would’ve reacted if he’d told me he was leaving, but he never gave me the chance. He simply assumed how it would all play out.
His expression is unreadable, and then he looks away, drawing in a breath. ”Maybe we weren’t talking about it, but I was certainly thinking about it.”
Okay, this shit just got way too serious for me. Time to do what I do best. Insert sarcasm.
"Does that mean you're a famous rock star now, and you came back to profess your undying love and whisk me away?"
I expect him to laugh, or at least smile at my joke, but his face remains stoic.
We’re both staring at each other, unsure what to say when I hear a commotion at the front door. I twist and find Adrian arguing with the hostess. Max is standing behind him, giving me an “I’m sorry” look.