and we had a standing coffee date every other Thursday—she clearly knew me well enough to know something was up.
“Zach, take a seat while Liz and I go over today’s agenda? Then we’ll get started.”
“Sure.” He walked away and I couldn’t help watching. A year ago I’d been able to pick him out of a crowd from behind. Not anymore. He was taller. All broad shoulders and big biceps. A narrow waist gave way to a great butt. Not like I noticed or anything.
“Liz, a moment,” Professor Mulligan said as she walked out the door.
I followed her into the empty hallway and leaned my body against the cool tiled wall.
“Do you know him?” she asked, hitching her thumb over her shoulder towards the classroom.
“He’s my ex from high school. Bad breakup.”
“I’m sorry.” She rested her hand on my shoulder. “I had no idea.”
How was she supposed to know? It’s not like I walked around with an “I dated Zach Roberts” name tag.
“It’s okay. Our personal relationship should have nothing to do with it. Besides. He’s really good at this stuff. Can even credit him for my own interest in it.”
She gave me a hopeful look. “Do you think you two will ever work out your differences?”
“No!” I caught myself yelling and lowered my voice. “You know I’m with Joe, and I’m happy. He makes me happy.” She was more than aware of my relationship with Joe. He even joined us for coffee on a couple of occasions.
“I didn’t necessarily mean boyfriend and girlfriend. I was talking friendship,” she said, arms crossed, eyes focused on mine.
“That’s not going to happen.”
“We’ll see.” Then she walked away.
What was that about? What was she trying to prove? I wanted to run after her and argue. We wouldn’t see because it wouldn’t happen. But there was no use arguing. People were going to think what they wanted and because of our history, I’m sure they were thinking a lot. Too much. And because most of these people didn’t know details it was all speculation.
There was nothing I could do about that though. So I did the only thing I could do. I walked back into that classroom with my head held high as if Zach’s presence wasn’t weighing heavy on my heart.
Chapter 6
The bowling alley wasn’t far from our apartment, and it was the perfect place to hang out with our friends without spending our entire month’s grocery funds. By the time we got there, the parking lot was already packed. Sadie looped around the lot a couple times before finally spotting a car pulling out.
She put her blinker on but as she drove to the spot, a copper orange Jeep Wrangler stole it.
“You had your blinker on. What the hell?” I threw my hands up in hopes the inconsiderate moron in the Jeep would see.
Sadie shrugged. “Whatever, we’ll keep looking.”
“No! We won’t. That was your spot.” I rolled my window down and waited.
“Seriously, Liz, we can get another spot. What if they’re crazy and they have a gun in their truck and they kill us and then toss our bodies into the river.”
“You watch too much TV.”
Sadie let off the brake just as Zach stepped out from the Jeep. Of course. I should have guessed. It was like he came here to make my life a living hell. Why wouldn’t he steal the parking spot Sadie was clearly pulling into?
“I’m waiting,” Sadie said.
“For what?” I asked as I rolled up the window.
“Now that I know it’s just Zach and not some psycho killer I want to see you battle.”
“Forget it. Just loop around again. I’m sure another space opened up.” I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Zach. If I started with him, he’d be guaranteed to find pleasure in my discontent, and I refused to let that happen.
The three more laps around the parking lot it took to finally find a spot gave me time to calm my nerves. This night was about hanging out with my friends and my boyfriend, and I wasn’t going to let Zach’s presence ruin it.
The bowling alley was just as crowded as the parking lot. Tuesday night was disco bowling from eight to ten. The white pins glowed beneath the black lights and a rainbow of colors showered down in streams from the overhead strobe lights. Techno music pumped out of the speakers and most people danced in their lanes.
Scott, Ruthie, Matt and Joe were in our usual two lanes towards the back. Zach was there too and as soon as Sadie and I headed in their direction his eyes snapped to mine. It was like he had a built-in radar and it was seriously getting on my nerves.
“Babe, you’re here,” Joe said, as he took me into his arms. I relished the fact that Zach shifted uncomfortably in his chair to talk to Matt. Joe kissed my forehead, his nose resting on top of my head, and then pulled me towards our friends. “I was just telling Zach about how you bowled a turkey last week.”
Joe and Zach bonding was the absolute last thing I wanted.
“That’s pretty impressive Lizzi . . . Liz. I remember when you couldn’t even get the ball to stay in the lane.” I ignored his attempt to bring up the past and sat down to put on the shoes Joe had already got for me. “We used to call her the Gutter Queen.”
“No
“I was . . . Okay, I guess I need a ball.”
I didn’t let go of Sadie’s arm until we were halfway across the alley.
“Okay, are you going to explain that to me now?” she asked, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“I don’t believe him!” I blurted out.
“I’m gonna need more than that, Liz.”
“He just comes back into my life like it’s no big deal. He starts popping up everywhere. My college, my committee, and now he’s bonding with Joe. Why is he talking to Joe? I don’t want him talking to Joe.”
“Okay, sit down.” Sadie relaxed onto a stool by the snack bar.
“I don’t want to sit.” I paced back and forth. I had so much pent up energy I couldn’t sit even if I wanted to.
“I’m going to ask you something and I want you to promise me you’re not going to rip my head off,” she said and held her hands up as if reasoning with me.
I stopped pacing, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. “What?”
“Promise,” she repeated.
“Fine, I promise,” I said, pacing again.
“Are you not over him?”
My teeth clenched and my feet came to an abrupt stop. “That’s ridiculous. It was what? Over a year ago? We’re not even the same people anymore. I grew up. Moved on. Of course I’m over him.”
“I’m saying this because you are my best friend and I love you.” She grabbed my hand and stared me down with those gray eyes of hers. “I don’t think you are.”
“No. I . . .”
“Look. I’ve known you since the third grade, which pretty much makes me an expert on all things Liz. And I can tell there is still something there, and it might be miniscule, and it might be pushed way in the back of your mind, but it’s there whether you want to admit to it or not.”
I fell into the chair next to her. “I don’t want it to be.”
Sadie was right. I just didn’t want to admit to it. Zach hurt me. He moved away and stopped calling and that
