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Her friend shrugged as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “Let’s not talk about me. My life is firmly positioned in the boring box. You, on the other hand....” Her voice trailed off, and her eyebrows rose in expectancy.
“My life is pretty boring too.” Go to work with Hope, come home with Hope, sleep, and repeat.
“Not anymore,” May sang. “Jay couldn’t stop looking at you. I bet he was constructing soliloquies up there in his ol’ noggin.”
“He’s a football player.” Though he’d whispered pretty sweet romantic notions back in high school.
Stop thinking about then. Do you wanta repeat breakup? Or even something that would lead to another divorce?
“With hearts in his eyes every time he looks at you.”
Bebe smirked. May was a bit much at times but entertaining. “That’s probably the haze of pain pills you see.”
“No way. He looked much more alert at the meeting tonight.” May looked down at her bowl. “How did I finish it so fast?”
“I did too.” Bebe showed her own empty bowl. Temptation to lick it clean knocked. Instead she set the dish on the coffee table.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice the change in subject.” May laid a hand on her arm. “I know you don’t want to talk about him right now. You know where to find me when you’re ready.”
“Thanks, May.” Bebe sighed. “It seems ridiculous to walk down memory lane just because he showed up next door. I mean, what do I actually think is going to happen?”
“That he’ll knock on your door and ask you to take him back?”
Bebe chuckled. She couldn’t help it. Before she met Will, that had been her exact wish. Then, when her marriage dissolved, she stopped thinking about the opposite sex for awhile. Sometimes a guy at church would ask her out, or a tourist would show an interest. They’d all been so easy to turn away because she had no desire to repeat past mistakes. But none of them had the pull Jahleel Walker did either.
Did that mean she should seek closure? Find out exactly why Jay ended their relationship before they went off to college? Would that make it easier to avoid dreaming up what-ifs and keep her heart safe?
“You’re overthinking, friend.” May squeezed her hand. “It’ll all work out.”
“How do you know? Maybe this is just my hormones slipping into muscle memory due to his proximity.”
“You’re such a nerd.” May tossed a throw pillow at her face.
“Likewise.” Bebe retaliated. “Seriously, what do I do? Ignore him? Seek closure?”
“What do you want to do?”
I don’t know!That was the issue. She felt bitterness, attraction, then anger at herself for being attracted to the man who’d broken her heart. “I think closure is the best track.” She nodded to make sure her mind—and heart—thought of nothing else.
“Right,” May drew out, then smirked. She stood, stretching her small frame. “Well, I’m out. I have some papers to grade before sleep beckons.”
“See ya.”
They headed outside, and Bebe clutched her sweater firmly to her. Why hadn’t she grabbed her jacket? She flipped her hoodie over her head and sighed with relief. As long as her head was warm, the cold wasn’t too bad. Plus, it would be gone tomorrow and in the low sixties.
Bebe waved as her friend’s Honda headed down the road. She turned to go back inside and stopped.
Jay sat on his parents’ porch swing, his long leg propped across it. He waved at her.
Closure.
Taking a deep breath, she headed his way.
Jahleel watched as Bebe drew closer. She still wore that ratty sweater around her like a shield. His mouth quirked. She’d always loved sweaters that were way too big for her. “Hey, Bebe.”
“I cannot believe you suggested a ball.” She propped her hands on her hips, her head cocked to the side in a look of amazement as she stood on the porch landing.
Neither could he. His father would hate his guts now.
