A few minutes later a girl who looked about our age came out of the backroom. She had her hair half up half down and was wearing a cute turtleneck sweater. She looked me up and down and continued to stare at me as she walked to the front desk. Then she whispered something to the older woman who had greeted us.
“Holy shit, Sutton, you’re famous.” Reagan laughed. I looked over to the woman and the girl talking quietly and looking over in my direction. I rolled my eyes and continued searching for clothes.
“Would you like to try something on?” The woman asked Reagan who was holding a pile of clothes for me.
“No thanks, I’m good, but maybe my friend does. She’s the coma girl. Can you believe she’s alive?” Reagan whispered to the woman.
I snorted out loud. I couldn’t believe she just said that. The woman looked at me with concern in her eyes. “Do you want to try this stuff on sweetie?” She asked, clearly embarrassed.
“Yes please,” I replied.
“Gema can you get these young ladies a room please?” The old woman said to the girl folding clothes on a shelf. She walked over and we followed her to a dressing room in the back.
“Good choices!” She said with a forced smile.
“Thanks!” I replied. “All my clothes are from summer. I just woke up from a coma so I’m a few months behind.” The girl looked shocked.
“Oh,” she forced a giggle. “Let me know if you need anything else.” She said before hurrying away as fast as she could.
I picked out two outfits and brought them to the counter. I decided we had tortured the employees enough for one day so I made sure to be polite while I made my purchases. The older woman rang me out and seemed visibly nervous. The younger girl must’ve been hiding in the backroom because she was nowhere to be found.
When we got back in the car Reagan patted me on the back for finally having “balls” and we laughed our asses off recalling the events that had just unfolded.
I got home and quickly got ready. I put on my new baggy sweater and some leggings to wear to meet Luke. I even pulled my hair half up and half down the same way the girl from the store was wearing hers.
“Are you driving there?” My dad asked me, standing in front of the crockpot, sneaking a taste of the stew my mom had made for dinner.
“I think I’m going to leave now and walk,” I replied.
“Are you sure Sutton?” My mom yelled from the bathroom where she was helping Aunt Helen wash up.
“If you’re not up to it don’t do it.” She added.
“I’m sure mom. I promise I’ll text when I get there and call if I need a ride home.” I walked up to my dad and he kissed me on my head. Then, I stuck my head in the bathroom and my mom planted one on my cheek.
“Good luck honey!” Aunt Helen bellowed.
I walked slowly to the boardwalk, thinking of all the possible outcomes. The good news was that Luke reached out to me. In all honesty, he didn’t even have to do that. The reality of the situation was that I was leaving Coopersville in four days. So whether Luke wanted to get to know me or not our time was clearly limited.
I walked up the ramp onto the boardwalk closest to the Pizza Shack. I sat at a table slightly to the right of the restaurant next to the ramp. I clicked my phone on. It was 6:57. Luke would be off of work any minute.
As soon as I looked up he was standing there in front of me. He smirked and greeted me pulling me into a side hug. He was wearing a long-sleeved red Pizza Shack t-shirt and khaki pants. He proceeded to ask how I was feeling and then took a seat at the other side of the table across from me.
I told him I was feeling okay and drummed my fingers on the table. I felt like a jittery ball of nerves. There was a short pause filled with silence. It felt like minutes had come by but I was pretty sure it had only been a few seconds.
Just then Luke broke the silence. “Okay, so I know my text to you was kind of vague, but I want to be completely honest with you and tell you what I’m thinking. When I saw that note sitting on my couch, I wasn’t sure what I was going to be reading, but I opened it and I read it. It was a lot, Sutton.”
Before he could continue Bianca came out of nowhere and put her hands over his eyes. Her dark hair hung onto Luke’s shoulder. “Guess who?” She said smacking her gum. “Holy shit,” she said out loud, noticing at me.
“I thought she was dead!” She said removing her hand from Luke’s eyes. I felt sick to my stomach. This wasn’t going how I wanted it to.
“Bianca, we’re in the middle of something here and that was uncalled for,” Luke said to her, clearly annoyed.
“Calm down, I was just saying. I’m glad you’re alive.” She forced a smile at me then looked back in Luke’s direction. “You better not be ditching me for the turkey trot tonight.” She pouted. “Don’t get any ideas; he’s my partner.” She kissed him on the cheek and winked at me scurrying off. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had punched me in the stomach.
“Sorry about that,” Luke said, clearing his throat. “We’ve
