Loves Me NOT - Alexis Winter Page 0,3

thought or care in the world. “You really coming into the office tomorrow?”

I lean my head back against the seat. “That’s the plan.” My eyes flutter closed but dizziness takes over, so I force them open once again at the worst possible time. We’re passing by the high school. Memories flood my head.

“Destiny, please just talk to me,” I plead as I chase her out the front doors of the school. It’s been one week since prom and she’s still angry.

“No, Wyatt. I’m done.” She doesn’t stop.

I reach out and catch her wrist in my hand, spinning her around to face me. “I thought she was you!”

She scoffs. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, Wyatt. I mean, we look completely different. I knew you two always had a thing for each another. You were always flirting, even when I told you it made me uncomfortable. I guess this is what I get for not breaking up with you years ago.” She tries to turn and walk away, but I won’t let her.

“Can’t you just admit, or even entertain the possibility, that I thought she was you? I mean, you were both wearing the same type of dress. With the lighting in the gym, her blue dress looked white. You both had your hair done up and you weren’t wearing your normal perfume. I was drunk. It was a mistake, baby.”

I start drawing closer to her, and her usual perfume washes over me and makes me long to feel her against me. “Please, just listen to me. I’ve never done anything like this before. You really think I could do something like that to you? I love you.” My hand cups her cheek and my mouth moves in toward hers. Her eyes are locked on mine, slightly glazed over.

At the last second, she pulls away and laughs. “You’re a smooth talker, Wyatt Slade. You almost got me there.” She pulls her hand away and I let her go to avoid hurting her. I can’t do anything but stand back and watch her walk away.

This has been the longest week of my life. I tried to explain that night, and again the next morning, but she wouldn’t even listen. I thought giving her some time would help, but she’s still not letting this go. I have one week left—only one week to convince her to forgive me. If she doesn’t, my life is wrecked. I’ll never get the chance to give her that ring. I’ll never get the chance to be happy again.

I shake that memory from my head and massage my temples as a headache starts to form. Being back here hurts. There’s a physical pain in my chest that I can’t push away, and whiskey doesn’t seem to dull it. Running away is the only thing that’s ever worked, but getting that call from my dad’s nurse put an end to that.

“How’s Dad doing?” I ask, hoping to distract myself.

“You know about that?” he asks.

I nod. “His nurse called.”

He shakes his head and curses under his breath. “I told her not to bother you.”

My head jerks in his direction. “Why the hell did you do that? You didn’t think I deserved to know the man had a heart attack?”

“If it had been serious, then I would’ve called. But his doctor thinks he’ll make a full recovery if he stops drinking and starts eating right.”

I snort. “Yeah, like that’s going to happen.”

“His nurse is living with him. She doesn’t allow any alcohol in the house and she cooks three healthy meals a day. He’s doing better now than he has in years.”

“You still should’ve called.”

“Is that why you came home?” he asks, his voice suddenly taking on a softer tone.

“I just felt like . . . it was time,” I say, eyes fluttering closed again.

There’s a long silence between us as we drive through the darkness. I’m jolted awake when the truck stops and he says, “Okay, we’re here.”

I sit up and look out the windshield at the two-story pole-barn-style home I built when I started working at the brewery. Everything looks perfect and just as I left it—maybe even a little better. It looks as though the cleaning company I hired has been doing some decorating.

Drake laughs. “Been that long? You don’t even recognize your own home?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course I do.” I open the door and nearly fall out. I grab my bag from the back. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” I slam the door