Good? Where the hell did that come from? Just yesterday I was hesitant to go near her and now…
Now you’re back in Bethel Hills, lover boy. You’ve always wanted what you could never have and you know that’s Rocky.
Fucking devil. Too bad he was right. How did I even think I could come back to see her and not fall for her again? I don’t think I ever fell out of love with her to begin with. Every decision I ever made in Charleston had her in mind. Even letting her go was about her.
It’s the reason you took this job, Jesse. You want Rocky.
The revelation shook me to the core. There really was no denying it. I stared at the couple uncomfortably and bit back a laugh when Ethan gritted his teeth and replied, “No labels.”
“No labels.” I was grinning smugly and I knew it.
“Old friends, huh? How long have you known each other?” Ethan’s eyes bounced between us, narrowing in suspicion. I knew that look all too well. He was definitely jealous, so why not make him squirm a little?
“We’ve been friends since we were fourteen,” I replied. Yup, a long time, you tool.
“Wow, almost ten years. That’s impressive!”
“We lost touch a few years back,” Rocky interjected, staring daggers at me.
I couldn’t really blame her for being upset with me, yet it still hurt to be on the receiving end of her anger. Knowing I couldn’t stomach spending my break with the love birds, I grabbed my lunch and headed toward the door, intent on gathering my thoughts.
“Where are you heading off to?” Ethan called out nasally. “You can eat with us.”
Right, so you can rub Rocky in my face. Nope, couldn’t do it.
“No offense, but I’m a bit of introvert. I need my lunch break to regroup…alone.” I made my exit before either one could reply. However, on my way out I overheard Ethan asking Rocky out on a date to Carbanaro’s. It shouldn’t have surprised me that such a prep could afford a swanky place like that. How could I even compete?
“Rocky couldn’t have changed that much,” I mumbled to myself. “Besides, when did you ever need money to win a girl? Just use old fashioned charm.”
And maybe wake up a little of the bad boy Rocky always loved.
Life works in mysterious, fucked up ways sometimes. I mean, how messed up could I get? I needed to see her with another man to realize I still loved her?
Regardless, sometimes life did need to knee you in the balls sometimes for you to realize what was best for you. As fucked up as it was, it took seeing Ethan to realize that staying away from Rocky was no longer an option for me.
***
“Hola, Prodigal Son.” The sound of Stephanie’s voice echoed inside the stockroom, which was lovingly known as the Dungeon among the staff. I straightened myself, surprised that she was able to walk into the room without a care when I nearly got my head chewed off for stepping behind the cash wrap just a few days earlier. Then again she was Rocky’s real friend so I guess that title carried its benefits.
“Ah, isn’t it my annoying chum, Steph.” My grin stretched wide as I watched my old friend saunter toward me. Like Rocky, she had grown up considerably. Having always been much taller than me, I was happy see that I now towered over her for once. Dressed in pastels with her hair pulled back, she looked like a model, but she held no pickle to Rocky’s natural beauty.
“Nice to see you too.” She grinned, flashing me a smile that was metal free and blinding white, catching me off-guard. Nevertheless, her smile was kind. At first, anyway. “What’s your deal with Rocky, man?”
Ah, so we were back to this again.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lied. Did she really think I was going to spill my guts to her the first time we spoke? Hell, even I was still waking up from the confusion of my feelings.
“Oh, please,” she replied, sounding bored. “It’s really obvious to everyone but you two. I get it, really.”
“Get what? What a gossip you are.” I shook my head in amusement. “Guess some things never change. You’re still a nosy know-it-all, aren’t you?”
She rolled her eyes. “And you’re still a dick, I see. By the way, you’re right; I haven’t changed either. I still pride myself over looking after Rocky. It goes without saying that not all of us in this room can say the same.”
“Hey! I care about my cousin,” a gruff voice interrupted from behind us. I glanced over my shoulder and noticed a gigantic man peering at us. We’d shared a few shifts before, but as usual I kept to myself and never really spoke to him.
Steph laughed and rolled her eyes. “Stop eavesdropping, Maurice. Keep hauling whatever it is you’re hauling back there.”
“Shut the fuck up, Stephanie.”
Okay, maybe I should speak to him.
I couldn’t help but chuckle when he flipped Stephanie off before stomping off and made a mental note to get to know the guy better.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Stephanie narrowed her eyes and eyed me expectantly. “What are your intentions with Rocky?”
I let my head fall back and groaned. “I’m not here to ruin her life if that’s what you’re getting at. I’m sure she’s told you that we haven’t even really spoken since I arrived.”
Something I really regret now that Ethan is in the picture.
“Oh, I know,” she replied smugly. “But my question is why you are avoiding her. I mean, it’s pretty obvious why you’re here to begin with.”
“My mother?” I snapped sharply.
At least she had the decency to cringe. “Oh yeah, I’m sorry about that. I hope she gets better.”
“I bet,” I replied glumly.
She fidgeted for a moment, but her awkwardness didn’t stay. Placing both hands on her hips, she clucked, “But I’m not talking about your infamous return to Bethel Falls.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
She threw her hands up in exasperation. “The fact that you’re working at Rossi’s Novelties, of all places. What else would I be talking about?”
Suddenly feeling cornered, I tried to change the subject. “So, what have you been up to all these years? Your brains get you into a good job?”
“Nope, you’re not getting out of this one. We’re going to stay here and talk about the fact that you’re back to sweep Rocky off her feet, but you’re too chicken to act upon it. That’s why you’re hiding out in here all day and that’s why you’re too scared to talk to her.”
The blood drained from my face. Was I really that obvious? “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Mmhmm,” she muttered. “Keep telling yourself that, sweetie.”
Rolling my eyes, I decided to switch gears. “Guess some people never outgrow their annoying quirks.”
Slowly, Steph’s eyes narrowed. “You better be talking about yourself, boy. Some of us—and I mean me—have grown into fully functioning adults.”
“Then why are you here acting like Rocky’s bodyguard all over again or at the very least, her meddlesome mother? If you haven’t noticed, she’s a fully functioning adult as well. Do you think she’d like the fact that you’re here interrogating me again?”
Stephanie’s eye twitched. “I just care about her, that’s all.”
“And I don’t?”
“Judging by your aloofness, I can say no, you don’t.” Her lips tightened and her jaw clenched. “Did you not stop to think that she could have been hurt when you suddenly stopped answering her calls? Stopped texting her? Didn’t visit? Dude, she lov—err…she cared…um…well, you get the point. And do you know who was there to pick up all the pieces?”
“Let me guess…”
“Me! And whatever you’re planning to do, stop. I don’t want to clean up your mess again…unless of course you’re here for some good…you know what I’m saying?”
Sighing, I rubbed at my eyebrows in thought. There was no way I’d tell Stephanie what was going on in my mind. For one, I wasn’t comfortable enough to divulge the info. Secondly, if I was going to confess my transgressions to anyone, it would be to Rocky. Glancing up with hesitation, I replied quietly, “Let’s just say I was worried she was mad at me so I was feeling things out a bit. Like you said, I know I hurt her. Can’t expect to jump back into a friendship head first, right?”