“It seems like yesterday because you’re stuck in a time warp.”
I crossed my arms. “What are you talking about?”
“I bet you’ve never left Meadowbrook, right?”
“Why would you assume that?”
“Wild guess?”
“What does staying in Meadowbrook have to do with anything?”
“This place hasn’t changed a single bit. Look at this mall. Everything is the same. You should’ve left by now, experienced some of the world. Maybe you wouldn’t be so damn sensitive about shit that happened in high school if you’d lived out of this bubble.”
Feeling my blood start to boil, I immediately went on the defensive. “There’s nothing wrong with Meadowbrook. And not everyone has the luxury of just picking up and leaving.”
Of course I might’ve wanted to explore other places, but this jerk knew nothing about my life or the circumstances behind my decisions.
He searched my eyes, seeming to have read through my words. “Why couldn’t you leave?”
“I have my reasons. I’m not gonna get into them with you right now in a line for pretzels.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not the appropriate place.”
“Says who? Auntie Anne?”
“Shut up.” I laughed.
“Watch your mouth, Goofy.” He winked. “You don’t want Mickey to hear you.”
Mr. Serrano chimed in. “Boy, you two don’t stop, do ya?”
We turned to him in unison.
Thankfully, it was our turn in line, which gave me a break from having to talk to Troy. Mr. Serrano was happier than a clam once he got his bag of cinnamon goodness. Even though I’d given up sugar, I still loved the sweet aroma of anything freshly baked. My stomach growled—a little too loudly.
Of course, Troy didn’t miss a beat.
“Your stomach is begging you for mercy, Dumont,” he said.
“No, actually. It was just complaining about having to spend time with you.”
“Good one,” he said as he chewed.
We lingered just to the side of the kiosk as Mr. Serrano enjoyed his snack.
Then Troy interrupted my reprieve. “How’s Jasmine doing these days? I saw she has a baby.”
It surprised me that he knew that. “Yeah. A little girl who’s a year and a half now. How did you know?”
“She friended me on Facebook.”
“Jasmine friended you?”
“Yup,” he said with his mouth full.
“When?”
“About a year ago, maybe?”
“Hmm,” I muttered, finding that a bit strange.
“Even Jasmine can forgive me,” he said. “But you can’t seem to let shit go.”
The fact that Jasmine would initiate contact with him perplexed me. She was happily married now to a guy she’d met in college. They’d moved to a town in Pennsylvania that was only an hour drive from where we were in New Jersey. I found it peculiar that she would randomly friend Troy when she’d talked so much smack about him. Jasmine had been obsessed with him while they were dating. All she ever talked about was how good he was in bed and how big his dick was. He’d been the best thing since sliced bread until she caught him red-handed at the movies with another member of the cheerleading squad.
“You guys still thick as thieves?” he asked.
“We don’t see each other all that often anymore since she got married and had a baby. But I visit her from time to time. She lives in New Hope now.”
“Nice.”
“Yeah. That was a nice place to settle.”
“The word settle sounds so depressing.” He laughed.
“That doesn’t surprise me, coming from you.”
“When I think of settle, I think of my coffin settling into the ground.”
“I take it you have no plans of settling down, then.”
“Not anytime soon.”
“I figured.”
“Maybe someday, though.” Troy sighed, wiping cinnamon off the side of his mouth. “Look, I was a dick for cheating on Jasmine. But for fuck’s sake, I was barely eighteen. I didn’t know my ass from my elbow, least of all how to be a boyfriend. I get that it pissed you off, but hurting women isn’t something I make a habit of now.”
“How exactly do you manage to avoid it?” I asked, genuinely curious. I found it hard to believe he’d changed all that much, given his looks and attitude.
“I don’t lead anyone on. Being with more than one person is not cheating if you’re never committed to anyone in the first place.”
“Ah.” I crossed my arms. “A commitment-phobe.”
He looked down at my hand. “I don’t see a ring on your finger.”
“I’m not currently involved with anyone, but I’m not afraid of commitment. I look forward to being able to find my soulmate when the time is right.”
“God forbid he crosses you,” Troy cracked. Then his eyes went wide. “Where the hell is my grandfather?”
My head jerked toward where Mr. Serrano had been sitting. He’d disappeared.
My heartbeat accelerated. “What the hell?”
“You had one job, Goofy. So much for chaperoning.”
Ignoring his asinine comment, I looked around. “Has he ever left your side before?”
Troy shook his head. “Nope.”
My heart began to race. “Should we stay here in case he comes back or go looking for him?” My lack of experience in guarding people came into sharp focus.
Troy let out a breath. “You hang out here. I’m gonna take a walk around.”
A few minutes passed, and Mr. Serrano never showed.
Troy came walking back toward me, holding out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
“Why?”
“I’ll enter my number so we can keep each other informed. I’ll take this side of the mall.” He pointed. “You head in the other direction.”
I handed it to him, and he put his number into my contacts before we separated.
As I marched through the mall, I felt so disappointed in myself. How had I managed to lose poor Mr. Serrano on the first day of this task? Damn Troy had distracted me. But ultimately, this was my fault. I was supposed to be the responsible one. That was the very reason I was here in the first place.
About five minutes passed before my phone chimed. It was a text from Troy.
Troy: Anything?
I typed.
Aspyn: No.
Troy: Shit.
Aspyn: Where the hell could he have gone?
Troy: Fuck if I know. I tried the tobacco shop, but nothing.
Aspyn: Tobacco? He smokes?
Troy: He likes a good cigar.
Aspyn: Gross.
Troy: Not if it’s the right one. You never tasted a cigar?
Aspyn: Can you stop texting me and look for your grandfather, please?
Troy: I’m using voice to text. Still looking while I talk.
Aspyn: Anywhere else he likes to go?
The dots on the screen moved around.