Jude,” she says and then starts to laugh. I know the Beatles song is playing in her head, it always has.
“You know, I wasn’t sure that was you sitting up there. I had to do a double take, stumbled over my words at the thought of my childhood best friend being in my class, and then to see your name on the class sheet… just wow.”
“It’s me, in the flesh.”
“And in college.” I point out. “Have to say, I never thought I’d see you again.”
Laura shies away and I know I touched a nerve. We have deep rooted skeletons in our closet, which I fully intend to exploit while I can. I don’t want an apology from her, I get why she broke off contact, but our friendship meant everything to me, and I want to know why she tossed me aside like take-out garbage.
She inhales and squares her shoulders. “Are you allowed to get coffee with a student?”
I shake my head slowly. “But for you, I’d break all the rules.”
Laura smiles and it sends my heart into a tailspin. “I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.”
I laugh. “You’re worth it.”
3
Laura
It’s strange how things feel so normal with Jude. He’s changed so much over the years. Sexy even. I was nervous as hell when he called my name to see me after class, but I don’t think he hates me. Or, at least, I hope not. Maybe he’s being nice for now, and at the end of the semester, plans on failing me as payback. Then again, I don’t see Jude doing something like that.
We walk down the hall, past other college students who are too busy with their own lives to notice that a professor is walking with a student. I don’t even see how it could be a problem anyway. We’re the same age and childhood friends.
“Do we want to get coffee at the Blue Ridge Café?” I ask, feeling the nervous jitters in my stomach.
Jude looks over at me and smiles which makes my heart hurt. I hate myself for ending our friendship. “Sure,” he says, grinning wider in a sarcastic kind of way. “We haven’t been there together in years. Maybe you’ll be able to explain what happened to us, and not in an email.”
And there it is, his smart-ass remark. I deserve it and then some. It was stupid and childish of me to end our friendship through an email. I could never bring myself to do it face to face. Honestly, I didn’t want to see him get hurt. I hated my husband for making me get rid of him. Now that I think about it, that moment was the beginning when things started to go downhill between us. I should’ve seen the signs then.
Once we get outside and away from everyone, I pull Jude over to what used to be my favorite tree on campus. We used to study together under its giant canopy. “I knew you hated me over it,” I say regretfully.
Jude stands in front of me and when he looks into my eyes, he sighs. “I don’t hate you, Laura. We were best friends and you tossed me aside like I was nothing to you. You would think after eighteen years of friendship, I deserved more than that.”
The hurt is evident on his face; it brings tears to my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. “I know,” I murmur. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed having you in my life. I regret it all.” Jude was the only person I could really confide in. Yes, I had girlfriends, but it wasn’t the same. Jude knew everything about me, all my secrets and fears. He knows more things about me than my ex-husband. Jude looks away and I squeeze his arm. “I’m so sorry, Jude. Please say you can forgive me.”
It only takes a couple of seconds, but he turns to me and his lips lift up in a sardonic smile. “All right, I forgive you. However, it’s going to take a lot more than saying you’re sorry to get me back in your good graces.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I smile. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
He winks. “Just so you know, I’m not as nice as I used to be. Might take some time.”
I roll my eyes. “Somehow I don’t believe that. Come on, let’s go. I’m dying for my hot chocolate from the café. When I moved to Charlotte, no place was ever good enough.”
Jude