The One Read online

  “If I take the job,” I replied with a deep sigh. “I will have to move to Pomeroy.”

  “What?” Jared said but stopped as Meggie came to the table to take our order.

  “Hey, Jared,” she said as she gave him a smile, but Jared barely made eye contact with her. She turned to me, and her smile widened. “Hey, Seth.”

  “Hey, Meggie,” I replied as I picked at the place mat in front of me. There was something about this girl that made me so uneasy. Something I didn’t trust.

  The couple of nights that we worked the same shift, she was like a dog with a bone. Flirting and saying things that I really didn’t want to hear. Every time she came to the bar to fill an order, she made sure she leaned over the bar enough for me to see straight down her top. I wished more than anything that I hadn’t gone home with her on my first night home, because now she was sure as hell not taking no for an answer.

  “So, what can I get for you boys tonight?” She asked as she gave me a look that said she was offering more than just a beer. Then she looked at Jared and gave him a grin. Jared’s face turned bright red, and he squirmed in his seat.

  “Just two beers, thanks, Meggie,” Jared said still not making eye contact with her.

  “Coming right up,” she purred before she walked away from the booth.

  “Don’t tell me you fucked Meggie,” I said, once we were alone. I knew Jared too well, and I knew Meggie too for that matter.

  “It was a mistake,” he hissed quietly. “But now she won’t leave me alone.”

  “When?” I asked.

  “Before I met Savannah it happened,” he said with a shrug. “But now she just won’t take the hint.”

  I know the feeling, I thought to myself as I watched her at the bar.

  “Enough about her,” Jared said looking up at me. “What are you going to do about the job? You’re not going to move there are you?”

  “How can I?” I sighed as I rubbed my tired eyes. “Jolie would never move that far away from your mom, and she would never forgive me if I went without her.”

  “What are you going to do?” Jared asked giving me a worried look.

  “I honestly don’t know,” I replied as I spotted Meggie headed back our way. “I will figure it out.”

  That and everything else in your fucked-up life, I thought miserably as Meggie set our two beers down.

  “Joe said they’re on the house,” she said as she gave me a grin. “Seems as if you can have just about anything you want in here tonight, boys.”

  “We’re good with the beer,” Jared said still refusing to look at Meggie.

  “Let me know if you change your mind,” she purred before she turned and walked away.

  “That girl is fucking nuts,” I said when she was far enough away.

  “Don’t I know it,” Jared sighed before he took a long sip of his beer. There was a look of worry written on Jared’s face and I knew something was bothering him. Something big. I just didn’t know what that something could be.

  Chapter 11

  Seth

  I sat in my car and released a long, frustrated breath. I had just left yet another in a long line of apartments I had looked at that morning, but my heart wasn’t really in it. I knew it was mostly because I was disappointed about the job at the newspaper, and now I was worried if I didn’t find something else soon, I probably wouldn’t be able to afford an apartment at all.

  Still, I knew there was no way I could take the job, no matter how perfect it was for me. Leaving Jolie again, even just moving ninety minutes away just wasn’t an option. Especially with her being so unsettled. Something was going on with her, I had no idea what, nor did I have any clue how to get her to open up to me. My life felt like such a train wreck lately, so moving away from my family was the last thing I needed.

  So, I had no idea why I hadn’t told Michael Larkfield that the answer was no there and then, nor did I know why I still hadn’t called him yet. I knew I was just putting off the inevitable, but for some reason, I couldn’t seem to make the call.

  When Richard Power called to see how the interview went, I hated having to tell him that there was no way I could take the job. He said he understood, but I knew he was disappointed. Still, he said he would ask around and see if there was something a little closer to home for me. I thanked him, but I felt like I was letting him down too. I felt like I was letting everyone down.

  Which was the reason for my crappy mood. The hardest part of this entire mess was the whole Savannah situation. I hated that I was betraying my friend, but I couldn’t seem to shake this need I had for her.

  The night before, when we arrived back at Sylvie’s house after Jared and I left Joe’s, had been uncomfortable, to say the least. I tried my best to seem at ease with her, but the fact that she couldn’t even make eye contact with me was almost killing me.

  Sylvie had gone to her room to read, leaving the four of us to watch the movie. I sat staring at the TV, but I had no clue what the movie was even about. All I could think about was Savannah. I hated that I had hurt her. I hated that I had acted like such an asshole.

  As much as I tried not to, I would find myself stealing glances at her, my heart ached because she refused to look at me in return.

  Finally, I got my chance to talk to her.

  “I think I’ll make more popcorn,” Jolie said as she got up from the floor, grabbing the bowl from the coffee table. Then she slapped Jared on the head as she passed him by. “How about you grab some drinks, Dufus.”

  “Jolene, you’re so bossy,” he chuckled as he too climbed up from the floor, grabbing the empty glasses from the coffee table, before following Jolie to the kitchen.

  “Savannah, about the other night…” I said moving a little closer to her, but she cut me off.

  “Please don’t,” she begged without looking at me. “I get it, honestly. There is nothing else you need to say.”

  “But there is so much more I need to say,” I insisted as I instinctively reached for her hand, but she quickly pulled it away, stopping me once more.

  “No, there’s not,” she said, finally looking up into my eyes. “I’m with Jared. He’s your best friend. There is nothing else to say.”

  I knew she was right. She was with Jared, and he was my best friend. But none of that changed how I felt.

  “I just think it’s best if we forget about last Friday,” she continued, but the look in her eyes said something very different. Before I could push her more, Jolie and Jared returned from the kitchen, the sound of Jolie giggling pulling me from my thoughts.

  “So, I think we should watch a scary movie,” Jared announced as he set the drinks down on the table. “But Little Miss Scaredy Cat over here wants a comedy.”

  “I vote for comedy,” I said, trying to seem completely unfazed by what Savannah had said.

  “Actually,” Savannah said, pushing up from the floor. “I think I’m going to call it a night.”

  “You’re going?” Jared asked, his smile fading a little as he gave her a questioning look. He too climbed up from the floor. “Why?”

  “I’m tired,” Savannah replied, but I knew it was a lie. “And I’ve a lot to do tomorrow.”

  “Then I should come home with you,” Jared suggested, but Savannah quickly shook her head. I was surprised by how relieved this made me feel.

  “You stay and watch the movie,” she said, giving him a smile. “I’m just going to go home and get some sleep.”

  “Are you okay?” Jolie asked, setting down the bowl of popcorn. She glanced at me briefly, before she returned her focus to Savannah. “Has something happened?”

  I held my breath. I was sure that Jolie knew what was going on, I hated that she knew me so well sometimes. I glanced at Savannah, unsure of what her response was gonna be.

  “Of course, nothing has happened,” Savannah replied with a laugh, not missing a beat. “I’m just tired.”

  I released a breath, grateful that she seemed to have eased Jolie’s
concern, at least for now, but I knew that we needed to clear the air properly if we didn’t want Jolie, or worse still, Jared to find out.

  Savannah said goodnight without even looking at me, then Jared walked her out to her car.

  “Do you think they had a fight?” Jolie asked once we were alone.

  “I have no clue,” I lied, knowing that an argument wasn’t the issue between them.

  “I think they did,” Jolie sighed as she took her place back on the floor. “The last few days, things have been weird between them.”

  “I’m sure that they’re gonna be okay,” I assured her, even though I knew that wasn’t really true, just like I knew that it was all my fault.

  “I just wish you could find someone like Savannah,” Jolie sighed, as she glanced up at me. “I liked having a big sister. I mean, I love you, just like I love Jared and the others, but it was nice to have someone to do girly things with.”

  “I think no matter what happens with Jared and Savannah,” I tried to reassure her. “She will still be there for you.”

  “You think so?” She asked, giving me a hopeful look.

  “I know so,” I replied, leaning forward, kissing her on the forehead. She smiled, but I knew she was worried. She didn’t really talk the rest of the evening, which always meant one thing; Jolie was brooding over something.

  When Jared left for the night, I watched her as we cleared away the things from the living room.

  “Jo, is there something you would like to talk to me about?” I asked as we both made our way to the kitchen.

  “Not really,” she shrugged, but I caught a look in her eye that said she was lying.

  “You’re not worried about Jared and Savannah, are you?” I asked, knowing that my feelings for Savannah would ruin more than just my friendship with Jared.

  “No,” she sighed as she emptied the leftover popcorn into the trash. “Not really.”

  “But something is bothering you,” I said, standing in front of her, taking hold of her chin, tipping her face up, so her eyes had to meet mine.

  “Nothing that matters,” she said, the crack in her voice betraying her true feelings.

  “Jo, talk to me,” I said, giving her a pleading look, as my mind raced. I had no clue what could be bothering her. Then I remembered. It was Mom, or rather whatever the hell Mom had said to get her to drop the charges against the Douche. “This is about Mom, isn’t it?”

  “No,” she lied, but her eyes gave it away. “It’s nothing. There is nothing wrong.”

  “Don’t lie to me, Jo,” I demanded, but the moment tears pooled in her eyes, I knew I couldn’t push her too far. “Please, tell me. Tell me what she said to you that night. What made you change your mind about making that asshole pay?”

  “It’s nothing,” she insisted, pulling back from me abruptly. “I just want to forget about what he did. I want to forget about them both.”

  Before I could reply, she pushed past me, heading straight for the door. I watched her bolt out of the room, knowing that there was something she was hiding from me, and somehow, I needed to get to the bottom of it.

  I went to bed feeling flat and completely overwhelmed.

  Why did I have to go away?

  If I stayed, nothing would have happened to Jolie. The Douche would have never put his hands on her. I would have been with Jared the night he met Savannah, and just maybe I would have been the one she picked back then, and she would have been with me now.

  I fell asleep with all these thoughts churning around my mind.

  When I woke that next morning, I decided that I needed to put Savannah out of my mind. I needed to get my life back on track, starting with finding somewhere to live. I needed my own space. Maybe then I might be able to get my head clear and my life back on track

  But that was two days ago, now sitting here in my car, I glanced up at the apartment building I’d just left. Nothing felt right anymore. Not even all these stupid apartments. I knew that if I left things as they were with Savannah, I would never be able to move forward. Even if I was going to let her go, I need to make things right between us.

  I started the engine knowing right then and there what I needed to do.

  Fifteen minutes later I was switching off the engine of my car as I glanced up the apartment building across the street from where I had parked. It was a four story walk up, on a quiet street, not too far from where Sylvie lived. Savannah lived on the third floor.

  I could see her car parked out front, so I knew she was most likely home.

  As I sat there, I realised, I had no clue what the hell I was going to say to her. Was I about to make things a hell of a lot worse? Releasing a deep breath, I reached for the key in the ignition, thinking now that I was actually there, that maybe it was a bad idea. Maybe she said all she had wanted to say the night before.

  “FUCK!” I yelled, slamming my hand against the steering wheel. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  I glanced over at her apartment once more, taking in another deep breath before I grabbed the keys, climbing out of the car before I had time to change my mind.

  Making my way across the street, I spotted one of her neighbours leaving the building, so I hurried to catch the door before it closed, then headed for the stairs.

  I figured that there was no way she was going to let me in to talk to her if I had to use the intercom, but if she opened the door and I was there, maybe I would have a chance.

  When I reached her floor, I stopped to take a calming breath before I made my way down the corridor to her door.

  “This is madness,” I muttered to myself as I softly tapped on the door. As I stood there, waiting for her to open it, my heart raced faster than it had ever raced before.

  Finally, the latch on the door sounded, and there she was; standing before me wearing nothing but a dressing gown, looking breath-taking with her hair falling effortlessly around her shoulders. I could tell she was completely stunned to see me there.

  “Seth!” She exclaimed; the surprise evident in her voice. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came here because I needed to…” I began to say, but I stopped when she gave me a strange look.

  “That was just what I needed, babe,” Jared’s voice came from somewhere inside the apartment, as Savannah continued to stare at me, the expression on her face completely unreadable.

  “Jared’s here,” I said, unsure why I was so thrown for my friend to be there, at his girlfriend’s apartment.

  “Who’s at the door, Sav?” Jared asked as he appeared behind her wearing nothing but a towel, his hair a little damp, his face slightly flushed. Then it hit me. They had been having sex. My stomach instantly clenched with jealousy. “Hey, Seth. What are you doing here?”

  Savannah turned to me, giving me a pleading look, fear dancing in her eyes.

  “I…eh…I,” I spluttered, my mind racing, as the thought of them together filled my head. I quickly slammed those thoughts back down inside. “I came to talk to Savannah about Jolie’s birthday. She said she would help me plan it.”

  I had no idea where that lie came from, but I pulled it from somewhere. Glancing at Savannah, my stomach heaved, thinking of Jared touching her; of him fucking her. “But I… I can see you’re busy. I’ll come back.”

  I turned to walk away, but Jared laughed.

  “Where are you going, Loser?” He asked as he stepped out into the hallway after me. “You’re not disturbing anything. I was all done and will be heading off soon.”

  “Right,” I replied, forcing a smile as I turned back to look at him, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at Savannah.

  “Besides, I need a ride home,” he continued, completely unaware that I wanted to be anywhere but there. “So, when you guys are done, you can drop me off.”

  “Sure,” I said with a sigh, as he turned and walked back into the apartment, leaving me standing there with Savannah. I glanced at her for a moment, but I couldn’t let my eyes meet hers. I was so c
onfused and angry, but I had no idea why.

  She stood back, letting me into the apartment, and I could tell she was just as freaked out right at the moment, as I was.

  “I’m going to go get dressed,” he announced as she slapped Savannah’s ass. Once more jealousy thundered through me. “I’ll leave you to it.”

  He disappeared down the hallway, back towards her bedroom.

  We both stood there for a moment, neither really knowing what to say. I knew I needed to do the right thing here, no matter how hard it was, and stop whatever the hell this was, right there and then.

  “Look, I just came to make sure you were okay,” I began, my eyes still not meeting hers. I knew if I let it, my heart would overrule my head, so I needed to keep my focus on something else. “You were right with what you said last night. You’re with Jared, and we need to forget what happened. It was a stupid mistake.”

  “I guess it was,” she replied, but I could hear the hurt in her voice. That surprised me, but still I refused to look directly at her.

  “I think it would be best if I took care of Jolie’s party myself,” I added, unsure where that thought even came from, as a sudden, overwhelming feeling of anger washed over me.

  “But I thought…” she began, her voice cracking a little, but still I refused to look at her. I knew if I did, I would break too. “If…if that’s what you think is best.”

  “I do,” I replied, puffing out a long, deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I also think it would be best if I wait in the car for Jared. Tell him to take his time.”

  “Okay,” she whispered, and I knew she was crying, but I still couldn’t look at her. I felt like the biggest asshole in the world, but I needed to do the right thing, no matter how that made me feel.

  Without saying another word, I headed for the door; each step I took a little faster than the one before. By the time I reached my car, I was practically running, and struggling to catch my breath.

  WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED! I screamed in my head, as I kicked the side of the car. I had come here to clear the air, and instead, I threw a fucking grenade into the whole fucked up mess.