Fake Friends - Saxon James Page 0,16

even with his busy schedule I swear he has a new date each week.

“Well, good luck with this one.”

He hums. “I don’t have good vibes.”

“Then why go?”

“Because we’re not all celibate hermits, like you.”

I raise my eyes to the ceiling. “Celibate, my ass.”

“Exactly my point.”

“We can’t all be whores like you. I get enough.”

“Oh, yeah? When was the last time you picked up?”

“It’s been, like …” A month? Two?

Leon pats my shoulder as he stands up. “You keep saying you want a big family, but I don’t see you out there making it happen. Forget about Rowan. You deserve better.”

I snort because I’m mature like that. “He’s already forgotten.”

I walk Leon to the front door and close it behind him. The click echoes loudly through the entrance, and the silence that follows presses down on me.

Because there’s still so much night left ahead, I stand there and wait until he drives away, reminding myself that I really am alone.

Leon on his date.

Royce and Tanner all loved up.

Rafe not answering his phone.

Dahlia working on tomorrow’s course work, and Jules and Mitch running tonight’s youth group.

I drop my head against the solid front door and contemplate making dinner for one.

Then I head in the opposite direction and go to bed instead.

The first thing I see when I wake up is the photo Circus has posted of the two of us. I stare at it for longer than I should. At his round shoulders and all that smooth brown skin. It’s a side-on shot of him, but even in profile I’m more drawn to him than I’ve ever been.

I clench my jaw and close out of the photo.

Now he’s forgiven me and this job is done, there’s nothing tying us together anymore. I can officially move on.

That thought should fill me with optimism; I have my forgiveness, will get a huge payday, and can leave Sunbury. Maybe I can even live the life I’ve always wanted for myself.

But while the whole idea of moving away seems appealing at first thought—freedom, anonymity, complete agency over my life—Sunbury has always been my home.

I thought that once I had my forgiveness I’d be done. I could run back to Portland and put all this behind me.

There’s still something missing though.

So Circus asking me to leave and never come back … I don’t know if I can.

I throw my phone on the bed and change into some running gear. There are no gyms in Sunbury which means staying fit, you know, until I leave, will take more effort than it used to. And I didn’t work for years on building this muscle just so I can waste away now.

My grandma calls out to me when I reach the bottom of the stairs. “I’ve cooked breakfast, honey, come and eat.”

And has she ever. Hash browns, bacon, eggs, sausage, and a buttload of sides. I swear sometimes she forgets she’s not cooking for a whole diner anymore.

“Sorry.” I kiss her on the head. “I’m just heading out. Save me some and I’ll eat when I’m back.”

“Okay, but it won’t keep well,” she warns me. “Where are you going?”

“For a run. I need to stay fit.”

She gives me a sweet smile and pats me on the back. “Yes, you have to keep looking sharp. You need to find a nice girl soon. Thank goodness Leita gave me great-grandbabies, or I might never live to see the day.”

Somehow I keep my smile in place. “Be back later.”

I leave as fast as I can.

My jog takes me through the quiet residential streets of Sunbury, and I breathe in the clean morning air. It’s a different vibe than Portland, for sure. Leaving my apartment in the city at this time would have meant weaving my way through people on their morning commute.

I enjoyed living there. It was a change of scene.

But if I’m honest, this is where I belong.

I run down to the fairground and lap the large oval a couple of times, before heading back into town. My muscles are burning, and my shirt is stuck to my back with sweat, like it normally is after a good workout. I love the feeling.

“Rowan, hey!”

Speak of the devil. My oldest sister is sitting at a table out the front of Peg’s cafe with a few of her mom friends.

I smirk as I approach. “Supporting the competition? Wait until I tell our parents.”

She flips me the bird while she rocks the stroller beside her back and forth. “They do better coffee here, and it’s