“Me too.”
We sat there in comfortable silence, each munching down on the cheese and pepperoni goodness. It was like heaven on a hand-tossed crust.
“So…that guy in the wine cellar with you today. That’s Ryan’s brother, huh?”
Jake’s question was so out of the blue, so casual, that it almost made me choke on the bite I’d just taken. Luckily, I still had some Coke in my glass, and I quickly washed down the piece of pizza that was threatening to end my life.
“Yes, it is. But I wasn’t in the wine cellar with him. I thought it was Bree sneaking some alcohol, so I went to check. You make it sound so scandalous.”
Jake laughed. “I was just asking a question. Sheesh, relax over there, would you.”
“I am relaxed.”
“Uh huh.” Jake took another bite of his pizza. “Sure you are. Maybe you should get caught in the wine cellar with a guy.”
“Jake.”
“What? I mean, you never go out. When was the last time you went on a date?”
I couldn’t actually remember. But that was beside the point. “Thanks for the reminder there, bud. But I’ll have you know, I’m just fine as I am.”
“Okay. But you’re acting kind of weird.”
“No I’m not.” As soon as I said the words, I realized they were a lie. I sounded like a thirteen-year-old girl. Or maybe the sixteen-year-old who had fallen madly in love with Noah Chamberlin.
“Riiight. Well, on that note, I’m gonna be on the PS5 for a while. That okay?”
“That’s fine. Leave this, and I’ll clean up.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. It’s just a couple of plates.”
“Okay. By the way, you threw an awesome wake today.”
I frowned. “I’m not sure those two things go together.”
“Too bad, it’s true.”
The grin on his lips as he left the room belied any sadness over the one we’d sent off today. But then again, I wasn’t sure anyone in town was truly sorry to see Harry go. Still, I’d have to remind Jake not to be so obvious about it tomorrow.
I finished off my last bite of pizza and got to my feet to take our plates to the sink. As I rinsed them off, I stared out the bay window at the large oak tree swaying in the breeze, and had a fleeting thought as to what Noah was doing right now.
It had been a long time since I’d allowed myself to think about him. His memory was locked away along with my mother, classified as too painful to think of. But as I stacked the plates and started up the dishwasher, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d taken up my suggestion and gone to Willa’s.
I could always call and ask? See if he got there okay.
And why would I do that? It would be weird and cause way too many questions. If Noah wanted a place to stay then he would find one. It was none of my business what he did. So why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?
I made my way into my room, ready to get into something more comfortable, and when I pulled open my closet to grab my robe, I stood there staring at the row of coats to my left.
There, wedged between the wall and about ten overcoats, was the memory I never allowed myself to revisit. Blue, white, and gold. The colors of Chamberlin High.
This varsity jacket was a stark reminder of one of the worst memories of my life. But instead of going back there to that point in time, I closed my eyes and remembered the moment Noah had walked into my life instead…
“I REALLY DON’T want to go in there, Mom. Can’t I just go back to my old school?”
“Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I know this won’t be easy, but this is where you have to go now. I’m sure after the first couple of days you’ll settle in and make new friends.”
Yeah, somehow I doubted that. The kids that went here were nothing like me. They were rich, spoiled, and had no problem whatsoever looking down their nose at anyone who wasn’t like them. I should know—I’d been on the receiving end of that look many times. That was what happened when you grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, and no, I wasn’t being dramatic.
I’d grown up three towns over from the charming town of Chamberlin, where the railway tracks divided the rich from the poor. But as of last week, my mother had gotten a new job managing the local hair salon, and we’d moved on up. Or at least over the tracks, through the town, and five miles down the road from the Chamberlin winery, where at the very end of a loose gravel road was a nicely hidden trailer park.
I stared up at the intimidating two-story brick building and wondered what teenage horrors waited inside for me. The last thing any sixteen-year-old girl wanted to do was make new friends. It was hard enough to keep the ones you had with all the gossiping and moodiness that came with the onslaught of hormones at that age.
“Come on, Laurel. I don’t have all day.”
I groaned and shoved open the car door. Then I reached for my backpack and climbed outside. As Mom revved the engine, I turned around and stuck my head back in the window.
“Are you sure I can’t just start tomorrow?”
She gave me a soft smile and shook her head. “You’re going to be fine. You’re smart and strong, I made sure of that. Just be yourself and I’ll see you tonight.”
I rolled my eyes and moved back from the car, not wanting to be the reason she was late on her first day. Then I turned to look back at the building. This was going to be a nightmare, and as I heard her drive away, I thought about making a run for it.
“I wouldn’t if I were you. They have cameras.” At the sound of
