Page 75 of Nineteen Letters

“I’ll wait forever if I have to.”

“What about your dad?”

I shrug. “Same. He has his good days, and not so good.”

The waitress brings our drinks over, and Lucas raises his in the air. “To better times ahead,” he says, clinking his bottle with mine.

“To better times.”

We’re a few beers in when the food finally arrives. Thankfully the conversation has turned lighter, to sports and work.

“Can I get you something else to drink?” the waitress asks when she places the food down in front of us.

“Just a beer for him,” Lucas says, gesturing towards me. “I’m driving.”

I’m laughing at something Lucas said, as we eat, when I see his fork pause mid-air. His mouth is still open, but his expression turns from shocked to angry in a millisecond.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” he snaps, dropping his cutlery down onto his plate. I don’t even need to ask whosheis.

Although I’m still perplexed by his behaviour towards Rachel, my heart begins to race because if she’s here, that means Jemma is as well.

Looking over my shoulder, I see them both approach the bar and take a seat on the stools that Lucas and I sat at the first time we were here. My gaze zeros in on Jemma; she looks beautiful in that electric-blue dress.

It was a gift from Rachel for her birthday, and was designed especially for her. She wore it that same night when I took her out for dinner. I bought her a necklace that year to go with it—a heart-shaped sapphire pendant that was surrounded by small diamonds.

My gaze follows her every move as she takes in the surrounding space. The look of wonderment in her eyes tells me she loves what she is seeing, just like I knew she would. I’m grinning as I watch her. There’s no doubt in my mind that the designer is still in there somewhere.

I’m taken aback when Lucas stands, and for a minute I think he’s going to approach them and make a scene. But he pulls two fifty-dollar notes out of his pocket and throws them down on the table.

“You’re not leaving, are you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“Sit down and finish your dinner. They haven’t even noticed we’re here.”

“I’ve suddenly lost my appetite,” he grumbles, reaching for his jacket. “I’m sorry, man, but I just can’t be near her anymore.”

He doesn’t even wait for me to stand before he stalks towards the exit. I quickly place my cutlery down and take a swig of my beer before following him out. My eyes are focused on Jemma as I pass. I’m glad she appears to be having a nice time tonight.

I smile when Jemma laughs at something Rachel says, but it’s wiped from my face when I see the bartender’s flirtatious grin as he places a glass of red wine in front of her.

My thoughts revert back to the first time she drank wine, not long after she moved in with Rachel. It was a Friday nightand Lucas and I were hanging out at the girls’ apartment. Back then, the four of us did everything together. Jemma and Rachel consumed two and a half bottles between them. It wasn’t a pretty sight, and it resulted in me holding Jemma’s hair back while she hugged the toilet bowl for the rest of the evening.

I’d love to go over and say hello to the girls—and give the bartender the message to back off—but I need to find out what the hell is going on with my best mate.

“Lucas wait up,” I call out as I step out into the crisp air. He doesn’t stop, so I jog to catch up to him. “What’s got into you tonight?”

“Leave me alone,” he grumbles.

“Talk to me.” I reach for his elbow, pulling him to a stop. I’m not letting this go until I get to the bottom of it. In all the years we’ve been friends, I’ve never seen him act like this. “What’s going on with you two?”

He tugs his arm out of my grip, spinning around to face me. “It’s just … Ugh!” He runs his hands roughly through his hair in frustration. “I can’t be around her anymore.”

Without another word he turns again, heading towards his car.

“Hey,” I say, following him. “Talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to say.”