AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You need to learn to love yourself. You told me love wasn’t meant for you, but you’re wrong.”
“And how do you know that?”
“Because love doesn’t discriminate. Love is meant for everyone.”
He falls silent again, undoubtedly wrestling with his demons.
“Well, you’re off the hook for closing the gym without telling me,” I say.
“For the record, I’m really sorry about that.” TJ scrubs a hand over his jaw. “And about what happened after sky diving.”
“Sorry like you regret it, or …” My voice trails off because I don’t know what else to say without sounding like a needy chick.
“Is that what you’ve been thinking this whole time? That I regretted kissing you?”
I shrug. “Girl kisses boy. Boy pushes girl away and says nothing. Then boy ignores girl and disappears for three days. There the conclusions were. I didn’t have to jump far.”
“With the anniversary of my mom’s death, my head wasn’t in a good space. A lot of old shit gets dug up. I didn’t want to drag you into my mess of emotions. Didn’t want to take advantage of the situation. Of you.”
“So, what you’re saying is …”
“No, I did not regret the kiss. And if I’m being honest, I wanted to keep going.”
My eyes land on his lips, heart hammering in my chest. “I like when you’re honest.”
TJ edges forward, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. My heart stalls, breath faltering. All logic and reasoning fly out the window when we’re this close.
Three solid knocks on the door bring me back down to earth.
I’ve never been so unhappy to see tacos in my life.
While we’re eating, I summon the courage to ask another personal question. “Have you ever gone to visit your dad in jail?”
TJ shakes his head and swallows. “I’ve never wanted to. He doesn’t deserve a visitor.”
“I get it. I wouldn’t want to see him either.”
He arches a brow. “You’re not going to lecture me about not going?”
“Why would I? I don’t blame you for not wanting to see him.” I take a sip of water. “What about Woods?”
He shoves half a taco into his mouth and shrugs.
“You said he was your friend. What happened after you went to jail?” I tilt my head. “Wait. Why were you in jail?”
TJ gulps his water and leans back against his chair. “You ever consider going into journalism?”
I snort and a piece of taco shell lodges itself in my throat. TJ smacks me on the back while I sputter and cough.
I spend the remainder of the night listening to stories from TJ’s past. It breaks my heart to hear how awful his foster homes were, and to think about how many other kids have to live in the same kinds of situations. I’m especially upset when he tells me he was homeless. I can’t fathom something like that. Alone. No family or friends to help you. Nowhere to live. No food to fill your stomach. I try to picture it, but I just can’t.
It’s after eleven when an idea pops into my brain. “Do you ever volunteer?”
TJ stifles a yawn. “I do.”
“Can I come with you the next time you go?”
“You’d do that?”
