“I understand.” He changed the subject. “How is Ogun?”
A half grin slipped out at the thought of my friend. “He’s a damn good soldier, you know. I think he wanted you to be proud that he followed in your footsteps.”
Another snort. “Son, he couldn’t give two shits about the army. He joined for you—to keep you safe. While I’m damn proud of that boy, my pride has nothing to do with him joining the army or joining the Bastards when you both return. I’m proud of him because he’s grown up to be a good and strong young man. Worthy of so much more than my respect.”
I nodded. He was right. Ogun was a good person despite what he believed about himself.
“I’m going to leave you here to wallow, but don’t do too much of it. If you need us, you know how to reach us,” he said as he stood and placed a thick hand on my shoulder. At his touch, some of my anger eased, and I felt more relaxed than I had all day.
“Thanks,” I gave a tight nod, and he walked off. The door opened and closed, but I had returned to my drink.
“Is this seat taken?” The voice came straight from my past and sent a jolt through me. For a second I couldn’t breathe, thinking my mind was fucking with me again. When I finally decided I had to be mistaken, I glanced over because I needed to know. My chest caved as my heart took a hit.
“Korrie?” I asked though there was no mistaking her. Her dark hair that glinted fire, those forest-blended eyes that I’d lost myself in time and time again. Alabaster cheeks flushed from the outdoor chill. Beautiful—and impossibly standing in this small bar next to me.
“Hey.” She bit her lip as she nervously twisted the charm on her necklace.
“It was you today,” I accused.
Momentarily, she hesitated. Then she sat next to me. The bartender asked her if she wanted anything. She rattled off her order, and he went off to make it.
“You’re not old enough,” I muttered.
She gave a humorless laugh. “Does it look like they care around here?”
I shrugged. Taking a sip, I stared at the apparition next to me. She was more beautiful than she’d ever been, even though she’d cut her long hair.
Shaking fingers tucked her shoulder-length hair behind her ear before she murmured, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? For what? My mother dying before I could get her out of the hell she wouldn’t leave? Or is it for disappearing on me five years ago?” No matter how I tried, I couldn’t keep the bitterness out of my voice.
The bartender dropped off her drink and left to deal with a group of guys who’d come in.
“I didn’t want to, but I didn’t have a choice.”
“You didn’t have a choice?” I asked incredulously.
“I was fifteen, Jude! I didn’t have a choice,” she argued.
“You could have at leasttold me!”
“My parents literally woke me in the middle of the night. I didn’t want to go. My mother threw my clothes in a bag and dragged me out of there as she screamed at my father the entire time. I was half asleep, had no idea what was going on, and was confused. She didn’t let me take my phone.” She buried her face in her hands.
“What, you forgot my phone number? My email? Social media? There was a plethora of ways you could’ve contacted me over the years, but you didn’t. Oh wait, or you could’ve responded to thethousandsof messages I sent you through every avenue I could think of—before you blocked me.” Anger was swirling through me. It had started the second I’d heard my mother had had an “accident” and died. It had spiraled from there. Seeing Korrie again and dredging up all the hurt and abandonment she’d inflicted certainly didn’t help.
“It wasn’t me. My mother blocked you. She closed down all my accounts, disconnected my phone number, and told me if I contacted you again, she’d ruin you and your family. She always hated them, and I never knew why. It wasn’t my choice, I swear.” Her pleading was getting to me.
Unsure as to whether I should believe a word she said, I tossed back the drink and motioned for another.
“What are you suddenly doing back here then? Shouldn’t you be in college?” I’d forgone college for the military because I saw it as my way out of the hellhole I’d grown up in and my mother wanted me to join. If I could’ve taken Jasmine with me when I left, I would’ve.
“My father had a heart attack, so I came home to be with him and make sure he was okay after his surgery.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I murmured. Her dad had been a nice guy. Quiet, but always wanted to know how I was doing in school. He’d moved out of the house the day after Korrie disappeared and a For Sale sign had popped up.
“I’m sorry about your mom. Though that doesn’t seem sufficient in the slightest,” she said softly.
Once I had another drink, I downed it and requested another.