I Told You, You're Mine
By: Heather C. Adams“Girl, what has gotten into you?” Her smooth chocolate eyes land directly in front of me on the couch. “It’s a guy isn’t it?”
I never let her know about Blade. I told no one…ever and I wasn’t going to start right now.
“No. It’s just about my dad. It was hard going home, remembering mom and realizing he was gone too,”
None of that was a lie. It just wasn’t the whole truth.
Adam situates himself on the chair across from us, passing a shy smile over to me. Things were a little awkward between us since the last time we saw each other he made that pass at me, but that was honestly the last thing on my mind.
“I’m so sorry about your dad. Can I get you anything Avery? I’ll get a round of coffees if you want, on me!” he smiles softly.
Adam has been a good friend for almost four years now. He’s sweet, and not a man of many words so I know the coffee is an extension of his condolences.
I shake my head, “No thanks, Adam. I just want to go back to sleep.”
I start to fall backward on my couch to lay back down and Bonnie’s hand catches me pulling me back up, “Oh no you don’t. I’m not going to let you sit and wallow Avery. I’m taking you out for a drink. I know we can’t drink away your dad but you have got to get you out of this house and this rut!”
“I can’t dance tonight, Bonnie…”
“Oh hush, you’re not dancing tonight, you’re just drinking.” She stands back up clapping her hands together one swift time, “I think there’s something you’re not telling me and I’m going to get it out of you,” she winks and heads back to my bedroom mumbling something about finding something to wear.
My hands creep over my face as I fall to the side of the couch moaning.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Adam’s soft voice startles me. For a moment, I forgot he was over there.
“No, I guess I just need to eat and get moving,” I squeeze a smile out.
“Ah-ha!” Bonnie comes out holding a short black spaghetti strap dress on display, “here we go!”
“I’m not going on a date for God’s sake,” I gawk with my face wrinkled and then I see her eyes cut over to Adam. When I look over at him, there is an awkward silence between the three of us.
I had no clue until we went dancing after graduation a few weeks ago that Adam looked at me as anything other than a friend. It was actually a complete shock, and naturally, I mentioned it to Bonnie and now we were all in a pickle. God, I just want it to go back to normal. I want it all to go back to normal.
But do I really?
Normal a few weeks ago was me running from the past. It was a life without Blade. That thought thunders through my core and hurts like hell. Right now, I don’t know what’s worse, never experiencing him as a real partner, or having had him and still not knowing if I can keep him.
Oh God, that thought brings in an onslaught of other unsettling feelings I don’t know what to do with. I want him so bad and yet after all that, I still don’t know if we can have each other.
Maybe Bonnie is right. I need a drink. I need to let this go for tonight and I need my two friends…even if one of them was a bit weird right now.
Thank God where we end up isn’t really that much of a bar atmosphere. It’s more of a karaoke chill type of place. We find a high-top table and get settled, and the heaviness my body feels is finally starting to feel relief by the magic potion Bonnie keeps refilling in front of me. Dirty Martinis are my best friend tonight. And little by little, the pain lingering in Saratoga Springs fades as the karaoke singers increasingly sound like Grammy Award winners.
“Yeah! Wahoo!” Bonnie shouts at Adam as he finishes his song. I didn’t even know he could sing. He is pretty good actually. Or wait…is that the alcohol? Who knows?
“That was pretty good,” I encourage him as he finds his way back to our small table.
“Really?” he sounds encouraged.
“Yeah,” I smile as I sway a little on my chair.
“My turn!” Bonnie bounces up to the tiny triangular stage.
“Hey, Avery,” Adams’ hand lands on mine, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the other night at the club…”
