Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,120
going in separate cars.
The restaurant was already full, mostly of college students.
We eventually got a table large enough to accommodate all of us.
We’d already been waiting so long that we went ahead and ordered as soon as we sat down.
Jared and Holden both got a beer. Holden drank his like it was a lifeline, whereas Jared just sipped along at his.
“Dude, slow down,” Jared warned.
Holden’s empty beer bottle smacked against the table. “I’ve been lifting furniture all day. Excuse me, if I want to get drunk.”
“Since when is lifting furniture a reason to get drunk?” Jared raised a dark brow. “That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard.”
“I just want a damn drink, leave me alone,” Holden motioned to the waiter for another.
“You’re ridiculous,” Jared crossed his arms over his chest.
Jared wouldn’t speak to Holden for the rest of the meal. By the time we left, Holden’s eyes were glassy.
“Jare,” I said as we were walking back. “You need to drive him home. He shouldn’t be driving like this. It’s not safe.”
“I will,” Jared groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand, his other firmly grasped mine. “I don’t know what’s up with him. Something’s bothering him and he won’t talk to me about it. We’ve been friends so long that we tell each other everything, but he’s not talking. I’m worried he’s headed for a self-destructive path.”
“I’m sure he’ll get straightened out,” I squeezed his hand reassuringly.
“Yeah… I hope so,” he said as we set foot in the parking lot of the apartment building.
I hugged Rollo goodbye while Jared argued with Holden about driving him home.
“Give me the keys, Holden,” Jared growled, already having said the same thing five times.
“No,” Holden snapped. “I’m fine, I can drive myself.”
Jared’s temper snapped.
He grabbed Holden by the collar of the shirt and shoved him into the side of his truck. “Give me the fucking keys you idiot. You’re not driving.”
Holden looked at Jared, shock written clearly in his eyes. He dropped the keys to the ground. I doubted Jared had ever spoken to Holden that way.
“Get your ass in the truck, Holden,” Jared snarled, getting in the driver’s seat.
I looked at Karlie and her eyes were wide with shock.
“I’ll take you home,” I told her.
She nodded, getting in my car, but her eyes were glued to the retreating truck.
39
SINCE I MET JARED, TIME SEEMED TO PASS BY FASTER AND FASTER.
Memorial Day weekend was here. We had Friday and Monday off and I was thankful for the much-needed break.
We dropped Karlie off at Patsy and Dan’s. They’d even agreed to watch Mable for me.
“Karlie, be on your best behavior,” Jared lectured his younger sister.
“When am I not?” she laughed. “You have nothing to worry about, Jare.”
“Okay. I’m going to miss you,” he pulled her against him. “Love you, kiddo.”
“Love you too,” she said.
Patsy smiled as she watched the siblings.
“Thank you for doing this,” I said as I handed her Mable’s cat crate.
“It’s not a problem, dear, I love cats,” she smiled, taking the crate from me.
“Bye Mable,” I said, sadly. I would miss my sweet little cat. “Bye Karlie,” I said, reaching up to hug the tall girl. When you were as short as me, everyone seemed overly tall.
“Alright, we’ve got to get on the road,” Jared clapped his hands together, and then motioned for me to get in the car.
“Thank you, again,” I hugged Patsy.
“Have fun, dear,” she patted my cheek.
Jared helped me into his massive SUV and I waved to Patsy and Karlie as we drove away.
“Ready to have some fun?” Jared grinned, entwining our fingers together and lifting my hand to his lips.
“You have no idea,” I leaned back into the seat, preparing for the two-hour drive to the beach. There were so many beaches dotting the coast of North Carolina that I didn’t even bother asking which one we were going to. I knew it would be beautiful.
We didn’t talk much, because we didn’t need to.
I watched the scenery change, completely engrossed in looking out the window.
Jared was playing music through his iPhone. A song came on and I smiled, listening to the lyrics and bobbing my head to the beat.
I pushed the button for the window to go down, and leaned out the window.
My hair whipped around my face, and I let out a whoop of joy.
I didn’t care if I looked crazy. I needed this.
“What are you doing, Katy? Get back in the car!” Jared cried. “Are you crazy?”