Page 8 of Right Where You Left Me

He clears his throat. “We do, yeah. I wouldn’t say we’re turning people away, but we’re doing pretty well. Better than we would have if we’d stayed in Chicago at least.”

“Oh, why’s that?” Emma asks.

“Big city, lots of shops.” River says with a shrug. “We managed to get a good client base built up here, and we even have people travel to get work done. Like I said, we aren’t super famous or anything, but we’re well known. It’s nice being a big fish in a small pond that way.”

She nods. “Is that what made you all decide on Cedar Falls then?”

“Well,” River starts and looks at me. “Actually?—”

“I wanted to move back home when I found out Piper was pregnant with her oldest. I wanted her to have family support and River and I had already been talking about trying to strike out on our own, so he came with me.”

“Aren’t your parents still here?” She asks and I can feel every fucking muscle stiffen at the mention of them.

“Nope.”

“Really? Would have thought they’d stay here forever.” She says. “Like my mom.”

I scoff. “Yeah well, not all of us were blessed with great parents Emma. Some of us were given ones that decided they’d rather live a life pretending one of their kids doesn’t exist because she kisses other girls.”

I get a cruel sense of satisfaction as I watch the color drain from her face.

“Sage, I’m so sorry.” She rasps. “I wouldn’t have said anything if I knew that. Shit.”

I shrug. “Yeah, well. Now you do. Piper stopped talking to them when it all went down. Parents fucked off somewhere in Cincinnati I think.”

“I’m sorry.” She says again, almost a whisper on her breath.

“Of all the things I want to hear you say that about, this wasn’t it.” I grind out.

She blanches. “What?”

I glare at her. “Are you seriously going to play dumb about it?”

“Sage, I?—”

“You know what, just stop talking to me.” I snap.

“Okay, Sage.” Emma says softly as she stands. “It was nice meeting you guys. I’ll leave you to your night.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” Peyton says with a frown. “You don’t have to go, Sage is just being… Sage. She’s all bark and no bite.”

“I’m not trying to ruin anyone’s night.” Emma says, pointedly looking at me. “Bye, Sage.”

I watch as Emma brings her empty martini glass back up to Felix, watch her smile at him in thanks as she closes her tab, and watch as she leaves the bar. Fucking finally.

“Well, I don’t generally like using this word Sage, but you were being a bitch tonight.” River says frowning at me. “She was just being friendly.”

“Friendly?” I say a little louder than necessary. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“It’s just that she wasn’t doing anything wrong.” Peyton says. “She even apologized when she made the comment about your parents.”

I wonder if there’s steam coming out of my ears, because it sure as fuck feels like there is.

“She didn’t have to do anything wrong tonight for you guys to be on my side in this.

” My chest feels too tight. Why are they saying this shit to me?

How has she already won them over when they’re mine ?

My best friends, the family I chose when mine abandoned me. She can’t have them.

“Sage—” River starts, but I cut him off before he can say whatever bullshit he had planned.

“No! She hurt me. River, you know exactly what she did. Every fucking detail! And Peyton, I may not have told you every bit about what happened with her, but you know that she and I have a bad history and you still invited her over here.” I’m embarrassed at how my voice cracks, but thank fuck I manage not to cry.

I’ve only really cried twice in my life, when Emma left the first time and when my mom told me she couldn’t look at me anymore.

Emma Newton will never have my tears again.

“She broke my heart and ditched me and now she’s just here.

Thirteen years later and she’s just here like nothing happened.

It isn’t fair.” I whisper. And it’s not.

It’s not fucking fair that after everything I felt for her, after she just left me behind like I never even matter to her, that now I can’t get away from her.

I’m stuck seeing her anytime I need to help out at the cafe, and now fucking Peyton invited her into our little group. I can’t fucking handle it.

“I know I should be over it.” I say with a huff. “It was a really long time ago, but every time I see her it feels fresh and I just can’t do it okay?”

“I’m sorry, babe.” Peyton says softly. “I didn’t realize it was such a huge thing to you. You made it sound like it was a teenage love story moment, I didn’t think it was so serious. I just thought—” She shakes her head. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, Pey.” I sigh. “Can we just move on. We can be nice when we see her, but otherwise I would like to pretend she doesn’t live here again. I have to see her enough as it is at the cafe.”

“Oh, cheri.” River murmurs.

“I do not need to let the straight girl take up this much space in my brain.” I sigh. “I want to just get drunk and hang out with you two the rest of the night, okay?

“Um.” Peyton starts and makes a face at me.

“What’s the look for?” I ask.

“I wouldn’t call that girl straight.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I say and it feels good to actually laugh at something right now. “Yes, she is. You should have seen the way she was looking at fucking Pete today. Total deer in the headlights awe as he talked. It was nauseating if I’m being honest.”

“Okay, then maybe she’s bi? I was totally hitting on her until I realized who she was, and she was flirting back. She bought my drink.”

“She bought your drink.” I repeat. “She’s just friendly. That’s what you two were just spouting off about.”

Peyton shrugs. “I guess. Felt like flirting to me though.”

I scoff. “We’re done talking about it, about her. I’m done feeling bad tonight. Let’s just have our drinks and carry on. I would like to have to be escorted out of here tonight.”

And that’s just what we do. The rest of the night we drink, we joke, and we have fun.

The buzz of alcohol is fluttering in my body and I finally feel like I can breathe again.

At closing we pay out our tabs. River calls an Uber for Peyton and the two of us walk home, his giant arm slouched over me as we stumble down the street toward our apartment.

We’re giggling as I fumble with my key and topple into each other when the door opens.

“You hungry?” River slurs, prancing his way toward the fridge. “I think there’s something in here I can make for a late night snack.

I slump onto one of the stools we have set up at our breakfast bar. “Mm, yeah. Make me a gourmet snack, Riv. You always cook the best drunk night shit.”

He putters around in the kitchen for a bit before setting a plate of toasted baguette smothered in melted cheese in front of us. “You should’ve been the new baker for Pipes.” I say around a bite.

“Well, I am not classically trained .” He says, putting on a perfect French accent for the last two words. “And I also am not a baker.”

“But you can bake.” I say and point at him with a new piece of bread. “And then I would get to see you at both jobs.”

“Sage.” He sighs. “I know this shit sucks, but what can we do to make it better for you? I don’t want you to let this eat at you.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “That was a lot of words for someone as drunk as you are.”

“You only think I’m as wasted as you are.” He says with a shrug. “I’m a big guy, Sage. I am drunk, yes, but it takes a lot to fuck me up as you well know. You on the other hand,” He slides me a glass of water, “are going to feel like shit tomorrow.”

I roll my eyes, but drink the water and shove another cheesy piece of heaven in my mouth. “I’ll be okay.” I say finally. “Tonight was a shock, but I’m not going to let her get to me anymore. I’ll be over it in the morning.”

River lets out a heavy sigh. “You know you’re my best friend right? You’ve been there for me through some of the worst parts of my life, and—” Oh god his eyes are watering. I can feel mine burning too. This big, dumb sentimental idiot.

I get up and wrap him in a tight hug. “I know. You don’t have to say it. I know. You’ve got my back.”

He nods and squeezes me tight. “Always, okay?”

“I love you, River. But now that we’ve reached the blubbering stage of the night I think we should head to bed.”

“Yes, that is a wise decision.” He says with mock seriousness. “Night Sagey.” He kisses the top of my head before giving me one last squeeze and making his way into his bedroom.

“Night, Riv!” I call after him.

I stumble through my nighttime routine and crawl into my bed.

My sheets are cold against my skin and I settle in, sleep trying to pull me under as I find some peace.

I don’t like being angry, don’t like feeling out of control and upset all the time now.

I need to let go of this, and I will. Emma Newton will not consume my stupid brain any longer.

She will no longer create this chaos inside of me.

Her and her pretty, perfect face will no longer take up residence in my thoughts. As of tonight, I am over it. Over her .

I smile to myself as sleep finally takes me, my dreams making me a giant liar of myself.