Page 40 of Deadly Forever

Twelve

“Ah, summer school,” James intoned the next morning, staring at the daunting facade of one of Macomb County’s most affluent high schools as he trudged through the Washington Heights High School parking lot with Jake. “This brings back fond memories.”

Jake snorted. “I never would’ve pegged you for a summer school kid,” he said. “I would’ve thought you were popular and prone to doing what your teachers wanted because you were a good boy.”

“Yes, well, I was popular and naughty,” James explained. “I couldn’t quite keep my nose out of trouble. I got sent to summer school one year because I got caught making out with my girlfriend in the gym when I was supposed to be in algebra. Instead of apologizing, I compounded the mistake by then getting caught making out with her in the girls’ locker room.”

“What happened to Mandy?”

James stilled. “It wasn’t Mandy.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Jake said, shaking his head. “I’ve only ever known the two of you together. It’s hard for me to imagine you with other people. You dated the girl who died last summer when you were in high school, right?”

James made a face. “Ann. Yeah. It was her.”

“I’m sorry if I brought up a touchy subject,” Jake offered. “Even though you’d moved on at the time of her death, it must be difficult for you to think about her because of the way she died.”

James shrugged, noncommittal. “I never think about her,” he said after a beat. “I didn’t think about her once I broke up with her. I know that’s awful to say because I was with her for two years when I was a teenager, but … I never loved her. I didn’t even like her.”

“Still, she died,” Jake said. “She died when you were in the same building.”

“With Mandy.”

“Is that distinction important?”

“I don’t know,” James replied, rubbing his chin as he resumed walking toward the school. “When I was with Ann, Mandy was this cute little shadow. She was always watching me and flirting, although her version of flirting at fourteen was extremely odd.”

Jake snickered. He loved hearing stories about when the Hardys were younger. “She was fourteen. What did you expect?”

“I certainly didn’t think I would end up with her,” James said. “I mean, I knew there was something different about her, special even, but if you would’ve told me back then that I would marry her and be happy … well … I would’ve laughed in your face.”

“Did you think you would marry Ann?”

“Never.” James shook his head. “I didn’t picture myself ever marrying and settling down. That only became an option when I met Mandy as an adult.”

“I never pictured myself settling down either,” Jake admitted. “Even after meeting your sister, I did my best to stay away from her because she was giving me ideas. Sure, those ideas were sweaty and sexy at first, but in the back of my head I always knew that if I opened my heart to her, that would be it.”

“Do you regret it?”

“Of course not,” Jake said, shaking his head. “Why would you ask that? Do you regret going after Mandy?”

“I could never regret anything associated with my baby,” James said. “Well, I guess that’s not true. I regret walking out while she was sleeping that first night. I would take that back.”

“You’ve more than made up for it. Mandy is over it.”

James wasn’t so sure. “Last night she admitted to a sense of panic when she wakes up in the middle of the night and realizes that I’m gone,” he said. “She says it only lasts for a second – until she figures out that I’m in the bathroom – but it still happens. I can’t help but think she wouldn’t feel that way if she hadn’t woken up to find me gone after that first night.”

“You can’t go back in time and change things,” Jake reminded him. “You can only move forward. Mandy knows that you love her. She knows that you’re the best thing that ever happened to her. Why can’t that be enough?”

“Who says it isn’t enough?”

“You do,” Jake answered, not missing a beat. “The two of you enjoy manufacturing drama because you like to fight and make up. It gets old after the thirtieth … or fortieth … or, heck, fiftieth time you do it. Why not just be happy?”

“Have you ever considered that we are happy?” James asked. “Perhaps the game is what keeps us happy.”

“I know you’re happy,” Jake said. “I simply don’t understand the game. The game makes no sense to me.”

“You play games, too,” James reminded him. “You and Ally play all kinds of sick games. Don’t think I don’t know about them either.”