Page 9 of The Long Way Home
There are a thousand things I want to say to her. But I’m not sure any combination of words I could string together would be enough to make her forgive me. I guess I could start with the obvious.
“You look stunning tonight.” I let my thumb brush her hand.
“I know. Margo was nice enough to pick a dress that actually flatters her bridesmaids.” Venom laces her words.
“How nice of her to let you steal some of the attention.” We sway to the music. “I’m just making sure you heard it at least once tonight,” I say, glancing toward Ben, then back at her. “Didn’t want that big, beautiful mind of yours thinking you looked anything less.”
Her eyes flick to where Ben is, and I feel a jab of something I can’t quite name.
“Does he always leave you stranded like that?” I ask, keeping my eyes on her as we move together.
She stiffens, trying to put some space between us. “No. He’s just busy with work.”
“Must be pretty important work.” I pull her back closer to me. “It’s a real shame it keeps him from noticing the person he showed up with.”
I know I’m pushing it, but it is hard to watch her choose this. In all the years I’ve known Sunny, she’s never let anyone,let alone a man, walk over her. And here she is, entertaining someone like him.
“At least he’s here.” Her eyes narrow. “At least he has always been here.”
Her jab lands, and jealousy claws my chest. “I’m not trying to start a fight, Rach.”
“Try worrying about your own life then.”
I swallow. The words come out blunt, even though my chest constricts, attempting to warn me that I should be staying silent. “I don’t get why you’re getting so angry with me for giving you a compliment.”
“You know what you meant,” she fires back.
“Tell me, Sunny. What did I mean?”
“You don’t know him.” Her body flinches as she takes a step away from me. “The audacity you have right now to pick apart my relationship when I haven’t seen you in four years. You’re infuriating.”
My voice drops low, almost demanding. “You’ve never made excuses for poor behavior before. Why start now?”
Her jaw ticks, and her eyes flash with fury, but she lets out a careless laugh. “Why do you suddenly care?”
She swallows, eyes darting between mine. Uncertainty? Hurt? Anger? I can’t tell. She pulls her hand from mine, stepping away.
I watch her cross the floor. She keeps her shoulders squared, steps measured. She doesn’t look back at me. Every inch of her posture says she is proving something. I’m just not sure if it is to me or herself.
I may have to face the very real possibility of never having her in my life again.
Ben reaches the table when she does, phone still glued to his hand. He doesn’t look up. Doesn’t greet her. His thumbs keep moving, attention already somewhere else. Rachel lowers herself into the seat beside him and tries to lean in, laughing lightly atsomething he says. It is a fake laugh, even I can tell Ben doesn’t have a sense of humor. I watch as she tilts her head, placing a soft smile on her face, clearly trying to draw him in.
And I watch him barely notice.
She is radiant, playful, alive in a way that should demand notice. Yet he meets her with indifference. He tolerates her.
I don’t know what story he sold her or what version of himself she believes in. Either way, I’m not sure care.
Part of me wants to warn him, to make sure he understands what he is about to lose. But I’m not that nice.
Besides, we both know she was never his to keep anyway.
Chapter Three
RACHEL
Night has settled in completely. Above the skyline, the stars cut clean pinpricks through the dark. The moon sits low, as its light spills thin and silver across the patio tiles, catching on the rims of empty glasses left behind.
