“Clint, come on. I just got dressed.”
I kissed her neck. “I can get you undressed, no problem.”
She snickered. “Trust me, I know. Now, come on. I’m hungry.”
“Worked up an appetite, huh?”
“Come on, you horndog.”
I smiled groggily as she slid off my body. I got up and forced myself to get dressed even though I wanted to fall back into bed with her. I put on some clean clothes and splashed water in my face. I followed Rae out the door before the four of us headed for the lobby.
However, I kept seeing Michael shoot Rae glances.
Almost glares, really.
“You good?” I asked.
I nudged his shoulder and he nodded.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You sure?”
He unlocked his car. “Just hungry.”
I knew my friend better than that, though.
Ally must’ve already told Mike where she wanted to go, because we headed out without discussion of where to go eat. Rae leaned against me and I slipped my arm around her, kissing her mindlessly on top of the head. And every once in a while, I caught Mike peering back at us through the rearview mirror.
Maybe I can diffuse the tension.
“So, did you two get some good sleep like Rae and I did?”
Ally snickered. “Yeah. Rest. Is that what you call it?”
Mike pursed his lips. “More like covering something up.”
Rae sat up from my shoulder. “What was that?”
Mike shook his head. “Nothing.”
Ally turned around, smiling. “We’re headed to one of those hibachi places. I hope that’s okay?”
I nodded. “I love those damn places. Sign me up. Extra rice, please!”
Rae sighed. “Mmm, my stomach’s already growling.”
Mike licked his lips. “Bet it is.”
I furrowed my brow. “You good, man?”
Rae nodded. “Yeah, you seem a little tense.”
Mike came to a stop at the stoplight and I saw Ally wrap her hand around his.
“Michael, take some breaths,” she said.
Rae paused. “What’s wrong?”
I caught Mike’s gaze in the rearview mirror before he shook his head.
“I don’t know how you did it, Clint.”
I blinked. “Did what?”
Mike scoffed. “Forgave her the way you did. I mean, the whole damn hotel probably heard you two. Did you guys not talk at all?”
Rae sighed. “We’re getting there.”
Mike turned around. “Getting there? You completely laid into Clint for unresolved bullshit you can’t deal with, and you’re only getting there?”
I felt my anger mounting. “Dude, lay off. She feels bad enough.”
“And she should! That party was fucked up, and you’re not the only one she hurt.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, well. There’s nothing we can do about it now except roll with the punches and keep moving forward.”
Ally jumped in. “Like I told you, Michael.”
“Yeah, whatever,” he murmured.
Horns honked behind us and he sped away from the stoplight. He turned around and slouched in his seat as Rae pulled away from me. We traveled silently to the restaurant. Ally got us checked in with reservations she’d apparently made. We sat around that damn hibachi grill with strangers on the other side, staring at us as if we were prized possessions in a museum.
Then Rae spoke up.
“Just spit it out, Michael, and get it over with.”
He grimaced. “It’s best if I don’t say anything.”
Rae locked her eyes with the profile of his face. “Spill it, or stop acting like someone pissed in your cereal. You don’t get it both ways and I’d kind of actually like to enjoy this dinner with you guys. So talk about it or tuck it in.”
Ally cleared her throat. “Maybe not in front of others?”
Mike didn’t listen. “Fine. You want me to talk? I’ll talk. Something you’re apparently unwilling to do.”
He leaned forward before Ally caught his shoulders, trying to hold him back. I shifted myself in front of Rae, hoping he’d take the hint so we could do this when we weren’t in a crowd of strangers. But Rae put her hands on my shoulders, squeezing them and moving me out of the way. No amount of talking from Ally’s point of view got Mike to back down and Rae sure as hell stepped up to the plate.
“Guys, can we not--?”
Mike pointed his finger at Rae. “You acted like a spoiled brat at that party. Not once did you hold yourself with any sense of decorum or decency. You couldn’t even handle your emotions at one part. One, Rae. Because the second there was temptation, you threw yourself straight into the line of fire.”
“Your point, Michael?”
He snickered. “I don’t think you’re ready for college. I don’t think you have the willpower or the want to do it after seeing you like that. And I think that’s what’s making you miserable.”
“What?”
“I don’t think you’re upset with Clint at all for not wanting to go to college. I think you’re upset with him because he had the balls to choose the road you wish you could travel.”
I glared at him. “Mike, cut it out.”
He shook his head. “No, no I won’t. Because someone has to tell Rae the cold, hard truth. You went off on Clint, a man that loves you. A man that has followed you around blindly and would do anything for you. But watching you go off on him like that? Go off on me? He didn’t deserve that, and neither did I. Allison didn’t deserve to clean up your mess. You dragged all of us through the mud that night. And I think it’s all because you don’t actually want to be here.”
Rae gritted her teeth. “I know what I did to you guys that night. I know this is all my fault.”
“Do you? Do you really, Rae? This was supposed to be a fun end of the summer road trip for the four of us before everything changes. Because that’s all you’ve been talking about. How it’s going to change. How we’re going to change. So we had this. And then you go and pull this shit and then get angry because we’re angry? Come on.”
I leveled out my voice. “Mike, cut it out.”
Ally shook her head. “Just let him say it, please.”
I looked over at Rae and saw tears cresting her eyes as Mike continued.
“It’s easy to make plans and talk a big talk, but when it comes down to it, Rae, life gets busy and shit happens. This was supposed to be good for all of us. And now, you’ve made it all about you. You and your wishy-washy decision-making skills and your drama and your crap. I’m over it.”
I stood up from my chair. “Enough, Michael.”
He glared up at me. “You should be more pissed than I am.”
I cocked my head. “Leave it alone. Now.”
I heard Ally softly apologizing to the people on the other side of the hibachi table. But it was too late. They had already gathered their things and gotten up. Everyone working in that damn place stared us down as if we were maniacs ruining their evening. I wasn't backing down, though. Mike had gone much too far. Especially with the way Rae was sniffling. I made sure he heard my tone. Saw my fists balled up at my sides. Because I didn't have any issues coming to blows with him again.
He was lucky I wasn’t already wailing on him because he made Rae cry.
“Just sit.”
Rae’s whispered words came along with a tug at my arm. And I did as she asked. Mike shook his head as he flopped back into his chair, looking as desolate as I’d ever seen him. Ally rubbed his leg with her hand. Tried comforting him as much as she could. But even she looked a bit empty inside.
This entire weekend had drained all of us.
“Good evening, you guys! Oh, did the other party leave?”
The waitress’s cheery voice grated against my ears.
“I’m not really sure what happened to them,” Ally said.
“Oh, well. No matter. What can I get you guys to drink?” the waitress asked.
We all placed our drink orders, then fell silent again. Our salads came and I saw all of us stabbing our food a little harder than usual. Other than talking with the chef at our hibachi grill, we didn’t utter a word. Not to one another, and certainly not among ourselves. The food tasted bland. My appetite quickly faded away as my plate was stacked higher with food. Even drenching it in ginger sauce didn’t do much for my appetite.
I ended up packing up most of it into a to-go box.
“I’m not paying for her meal,” Mike murmured.
Ally sighed. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m paying, then.”
Rae piped up. “It’s okay. I can pay for--”
I held my hand out, silencing her words. “Thank you, Ally. I really appreciate you being the bigger person you are.”
Then I cast a heavy glance at Mike as he stood from his chair.
He picked up his food and his to-go drink. I saw him shake his head at Ally before he stepped away from the table. My eyes followed him, watching as he slinked out the door, shoving his way between people to try and get away that much faster. Rae sighed heavily and I wrapped my arm around her. Ally kept whispering how sorry she was for the way he acted.
But she didn’t have to be sorry on his behalf.
That was his damn job.
35
Raelynn
The night was a blur. Clint and I didn’t talk. We fell asleep in opposite beds with our leftovers from the hibachi restaurant sitting out on the counter. I ate the unrefrigerated food for breakfast. I didn’t bother waking Clint up as I packed my things. I was ready to get home. Ready to get up to my room. Ready to cry myself to sleep for the next week or so before I had to be back at this campus.