I can’t stand the thought of that random dude inside her. Does he know that her neck gets ticklish? Does he know that she might seem like a good little girl at first, but she can get really fucking naughty when she’s comfortable? Does he satisfy her? Does she fake it with him?
Pulling away after a five-year kiss, they begin walking in the opposite direction, their silhouettes shrinking as the distance between us grows. I stand there, in the middle of the moving crowd, watching the memory of when I was happy disappear down the sidewalk.
I can’t stop myself.
This is the answer I was waiting for.
Harry’s lawyer has been calling me nonstop, asking me to testify in Maika’s custody trial. The trial was delayed for months—something tells me lovely Lauren is to blame for that—but it’s finally due in a few days. Harry said they weren’t allowed to use the recording as evidence but that doesn’t mean they can’t use me and my memories of that night.
I pluck my phone out of my pocket and call back the latest number in my missed calls log.
It rings a few times.
He picks up.
“Please tell me you changed your mind.” Harry’s desperate voice erupts down the line.
Yesterday, I said I’d think about it. Yesterday, I wasn’t sure I should go since I knew it would mean seeing Winter again.
But now?
Seeing her again is what I want most in this world.
“I’ll be there.”
33
The New Boyfriend
My footsteps are heavy, hesitant. Let’s be real—my footsteps are scared little bitches. I don’t have the slightest idea of why I’m doing this, but I do know one thing: I should probably be anywhere else right now. Memories of Winter on the sidewalk flash through my mind. I mean, goddamn, has she seen herself? She shouldn’t be allowed to look this fucking good.
The trial is a few days away, but there’s no way in hell I’m waiting that long. I need to know about the guy I saw her kissing yesterday, and I need to know now. Is it serious? How long have they been together? Are they crazy in love?
Does she love him the way she loves me?
Loved, past tense, a voice in my head reminds me.
I weave my way through the crowd and push the thick glass door to the tiny coffee shop open. It’s completely dead. Good. The less people distract her, the more chances I have of getting what I came for.
I don’t know how she’s going to react to my surprise visit. It’s been so long since I saw her. Luckily for me, she’s quite active on social media. All it took was one look at her profiles to find out where she’s working now. I must’ve looked like a predator when I came in looking for her yesterday. I managed to convince the barista to tell me when her next shift would be by claiming to be her friend.
Wow, I really am a creep.
I suck in a breath and come to an abrupt stop near the counter. With her back facing me, she’s humming along to the song on the radio and cleaning a coffee machine.
I clear my throat. “How hard is it to get some service around here?”
She jumps and swivels around.
A thousand emotions cross her features at the sight of me.
“Haze?” She blinks in disbelief.
She hasn’t changed one bit.
“Allie.” I offer her my best I know I broke your best friend’s heart but please don’t hate me smile. Man, how desperate do I have to be to go to her for info? Winter used to say that Allie was team Waze. I guess I figured if there was one person in Winter’s life who wouldn’t completely loathe me by now, it’d be her.
“What are you doing here?” She raises a suspicious eyebrow. She doesn’t look mad or like she’s going to go key my car to defend her bestie’s honor. That’s a start.