It is nearly six months since the day that I had to leave Tyler. Luke still has not stopped phoning me. I want to answer just to tell him to stop, but that would be like giving into him. I do have another problem, in any case.
“Hey, girl.”
“Hey Sandra”
“How are you doing?”
“I am nervous.”
“I promise you that I will make sure that you do not bump into either one of them.”
“But Luke is going to see the truck.”
“Don’t worry; I will make something up.”
“Okay, then. I am leaving in a few minutes.”
“Fantastic; I can’t wait to see you again.”
I really hope that I won’t regret this.
I sold my place by Luke; I want all the furniture that Tyler made for me, and only I know what needs to be loaded on that truck that is coming to my ranch. So I am once again making my way to that side. This time I am a changed woman, not the whore that left there almost six months ago.
I need to stop for gas and which better place but at the garage where all this started nearly a year ago. This time I just won’t get stuck on the side of the road again. I see as the store clerk smiles at me.
“Is today my lucky day?”
“Sorry?”
“We made a deal the next time I see you that you are running away with me.”
“Oh yes, that is right. The only problem is that I am not running away anymore.”
“Then I am glad you found what you were looking for.”
I get back into my car and put my music on. I turn it up really loud and start to sing
Nobody said that a grown-ass woman could not listen to Britney at all
“Oops, I did it again. I played with your heart, got lost in the game. Oh baby, baby. Oops, you think I’m in love. That I’m sent from above. I’m not that innocent.”
My biggest fear of going back is bumping into the two of them. I am more scared to bump into Tyler than I am bumping into Luke.
Luke is still convinced that we need to be together, that we have something special. He keeps saying that he has fought so hard to get me that he had to do things he is not proud of to get me back. He says that he loves me more than life itself. I think it is the ramblings of a crazy lovesick man
Sandra has told me that Tyler was really broken the first few months. He did not eat; he did not sleep; all he did was drink and get horribly drunk. But Clara has been hanging around, and Sandra fears that they might have gotten back together again. I guess some people just get over and move on faster than others do. In a way, I am happy that he is not alone and he is not heartbroken anymore. I still don’t like the women, and I really hope he has not.
I need to give Sandra an update on how far I am.
“Hey”
“How far are you?”
“I am halfway into Tyler’s. I am not stopping forgas”
“You sure you want to do that?”
“Yes. This gas tank is bigger; I will be able to make it without stopping.”
“Okay, I will see you at Luke’s then”
This is the final thing that ties me to these two towns. My house, once I have moved everything out, then I have no reason to come back here again.
I am close to Tyler’s town and even closer to his house, but not so close enough for anybody to see me yet.
Then the unthinkable happens. My car stops.
“Fuck. No. No. No.”
There is more than enough fuel in this thing. When I look a the gauge, I can see the needle has not moved since I filled up.
“The darn thing is stuck!”
I must stop Sandra before she leaves.
“Fuck. No. No. No.”
My phone has died!
Perfect!
Not fucking again!
Now I will just have to wait until someone comes past or for Sandra to realizes that something is wrong. And that can be for hours, if not even an entire day.
“I can’t believe it is happening to me again!”
For the first half-hour, I sit and cry, and then I realize that I might as well try to make the best out of my shit situation. I have got a bottle of tequila in the back; my bikini is in my bag, and the music player still works.
At least I don’t have a wedding dress on.
And nobody can hear me sing.
“My loneliness is killing me. I must confess I still believe. When I’m not with you, I lose my mind” “Give me a sign. Hit me, baby, one more time.”
Then I a rustle in the bushes next to my car, just as I open my eyes. “Tyler.”
“I really hope you did not drive like that.”
“What the fuck.”
“See, you are misjudging your gas tank again.”
“The gauge is broken.”
“So is your singing.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Sandra. You are trying to slip in and out of town again.”
“No, I am not.”
“Do you want a ride?”
“Yes, please.”
“Then do not start getting impossible. I will go fetch that wedding dress and leave you here.”
“Do you still have my wedding dress?”
“I figured you would be back for it one day.”
“I forgot about it.”
“Then why are you back in town?”
“Going over toLuke.”
“See, that thing is still going.”
“It’s not. I am loading my furniture.”
“So it means your gone for good, then.”
“Yes, that was sort of the plan. I was not planning to bump anyone, though.”
“Where do you want me to drop you off?”
“The town will be fine.”
“How are you going to get to the other town?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“I will take you, but we are not listening to that shit music of yours.
This is going to be the longest three hours of my life. I have not spoken to or seen this man for nearly six months.
He is still hot as fuck
“You are doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“The one where you are going to eat me.”
“No, I am not.”
“Then what are you staring at?”
“Your perfect jawline.”
“Still the same old Jenna.”
“The Jenna, you think I am is dead.”
“Then you won’t mind me going past Clara to pick something up.”
“See, Sandra was right.”
“Right about what?”
“You and Clara?”
“What about Clara and me?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
“Why does it make you jealous?”
“Not the least bit.”
“Then why are your ears going red?”
“It’s very hot today.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“After the stunt she pulled, she can be glad I let her stay around here.”
“What do you mean?”
“What she and Luke did.”
“What did they do?”
“You really don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Fuck.”
I have no idea what he is going on, but by the look on his face, he is shocked that I don’tknow what he is talking about.
“Who has Clara been hanging around at the station then?”
“How do you know she is hanging around at the station?”
“Sandra.”
“What else has Sandra been telling you?”
“Nothing.”
“You lying.”
“I am not.”
“You forget who are you talking to?”
“No, I am not.”
“No, you are not lying, or no, you have not forgotten who are you speaking to?”
“Both.”
“You can’t have both.”
“Yes, I can.”
“For fuck sakes. It’s hard not to miss something as annoying as this.”
I am pretending that I just did not hear what he said. I don’t want to fall into this trap that is this town again. It is really nice to see him, but it is not nice if I break his heart when I leave again.
“So what did Clara and Luke do?”
“I was hoping you would forget that I said that.”
Then we stop outside Clara’s house, and of course, she has to walk Tyler out.
“Look who is here, the other whore in town.”
“Hi, Clara. It’s good to see you again.”
“So for which one are you here? Tyler or Luke or both?”
“None of them.”
“Which one you staying with?”
“None.”
“What about your place at Luke?”
“Sold.
“Then what are you doing here?”
“Fetching the last of my stuff and going home.”
“With Tyler?”
“No, my home.”
“Where is your home?”
“What is it with the twenty questions?”
“Just curious, that’s all.”
“Don’t worry; I won’t be back here again.”
“For what it is worth, I am sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
Then I watch as Tyler shakes his head.
“Clara leave it; she does not know.”