Page 26 of Another Love, Another Time

I’m putting the keys in the ignition when I hear the passenger door open. Auggie slides in.

“What are you doing?” I snap at him.

“I’m going to watch the sunset with you. Isn’t that what we had planned?”

He knows damn well I was trying to leave without him. “Get out. I don’t want to go with you anymore.”

“Well, too damn bad. I’m going. You better start heading that way, or we’re going to be late,” he says in his calmest voice.

I growl in frustration. I give in because this is the one thing that I was looking forward to. I’m putting in the keys again when the back doors open, and Melissa and her friend slide in.

“Hey, can we ride with you?” she asks innocently.

“Did you book a reservation to go where we are going?” I question her.

“I know. Auggie told me where you were going. I got Meredith and me reservations twenty minutes after you.”

I glare at Auggie. This was supposed to be a secret. I knew if I told someone, this would turn into a group thing. “You fucking told her,” I growl at him.

He averts his gaze to look out the window.

Acting like she didn’t notice my frustration, Melissa continues, “I asked your mom if I could drive separately, and she said there was no sense in driving two cars.”

Of fucking course my mom would think that. It sounds reasonable. Why would we drive two cars to the same location?

I don’t want to talk to any-fucking-body. I’m shaking with anger. I finally put the keys in the ignition and start the car.

Meredith pipes up, “Can you turn some music on?”

I’m pretending to be as nice as I can at this point. I put on the playlist I listen to when I’m mad at the world and turn it as high as it will go.

This is going to be a nice, relaxing ride. Nobody dares to say a word.

~~

We get to the park and check in. The only reason I’ve come is because I know Melissa won’t be able to interrupt my peace. She and Meredith have to wait twenty minutes before they can come up.

As soon as I put the vehicle in park, I’m out and walking towards my destination. I get my phone out and shove my earbuds in my ears to continue listening to my playlist.

I feel Auggie behind me. He can easily keep up. He can sense that he shouldn’t say anything right now.

When we finally get to the top, there are a few people up there, but they are getting ready to leave. I sit on the ground and watch as the sun descends. Auggie approaches and sits beside me. We sit there for a minute before he tugs my earbud out. I hit pause on the music.

“Can we talk now? You’ve been avoiding me all day.”

I don’t say anything.

“I shouldn’t have said that last night. I was just frustrated, and you know I want you to be my girlfriend.”

I soften a little bit. I’m the reason we are not in a relationship. It doesn't stop him from seeing other girls. Would it really change if I agreed to be his girlfriend? I almost cave, but then I remember seeing him and Melissa on the couch and him telling her about this reservation.

“It didn’t seem like it. Actions speak louder than words. It seems you cared more about Melissa than me. And then, you told her about this,” I scoff.

“She wanted to hang out, and I told her I already had plans. I kind of let it slip. I didn’t think she would get reservations.”

I just look at him like “yeah, right.”

“River, you know you are my endgame. Melissa and I are friends. I know that you hate that, but I try to be her friend. She doesn’t have very many, and not all of them look out for her.

That’s it. Nothing else. Did I let it slip?

Maybe. But did I think she would be able to get reservations at the last minute?

No. Please don’t let her get to you. I’m sorry, River.

I’ve tried to apologize all day, but you wouldn’t let me. ”

I’m still quiet. I don’t want to be mad at him.

Melissa is going to be at the same college next year, and I hate that. Will it always be like this? I don’t think I can do this and still focus on school and sports. Maybe I need to look at another option. But do I want to give up Auggie?

“What about next year when we are all in the same place? Are you going to run every time she demands it?”

“No. I’ll let her know I have other priorities. We have a curfew, and I won’t be able to miss without getting in trouble.”

I laugh. He’s not using the fact that it will take away from us spending time together but not wanting to hurt feelings. He’s sweet and doesn’t want anyone to get hurt, but I need to be number one for him if I decide to be his girlfriend.

I’m out of steam. I don’t want to waste my time up here arguing with him. My only response is putting my head on his shoulder to sit in peace while another day passes.

He brings his phone up, snaps a picture, and shows me the image. It’s a good picture of us.

A couple of minutes later, I hear Melissa’s voice. Our peace is over. I get up and brush the grass off me. My heart still hurts. It belongs to Auggie, even though it hurts for it to be his at times. I just have to trust him to put me first next year.

Auggie latches on to my pinkie, and we head back down. “It’s all yours,” he tells Melissa and her friend as we head down and wait in the car. I really hope he doesn’t break my heart. I don’t know how much more I can take.