Sweet Nothing (44 page)

I made Deb leave early so she could get ready for her date. She waved to me from the street before she slid into her car and drove away.

I walked across the room to the bathroom, slow but without a limp. All traces of the accident were gone, the bruises had faded, my bones had healed.

I spent the day cleaning my apartment, running the vacuum, folding laundry, and hand-washing the few dishes in the sink. I showered after Bobbi, my physical therapist, said good-bye. We only had a few appointments left. If nothing else felt stronger, my bones and muscles did.

My stomach gurgled, and I reached down, realizing I’d skipped lunch. I made my way to the bathroom, feeling the strange sensation of excitement bubbling in my chest.

I dabbed on a bit of makeup, brushed my hair and teeth, and pulled my hair up into a messy bun. My face was beginning to fill out again, and although I still had a way to go, I was beginning to look like my old self.

The bolt lock on my door clicked when I twisted the key, and I turned, reaching for the railing to carefully navigate the stairs. I tried to leave my cane behind more and more, forcing my body to acclimate to walking without one.

I pulled my jacket around me, realizing too late and too many stairs later that a heavier coat would be more appropriate. My gaze instinctively pulled toward the curb where my car would normally be parked behind Josh’s.

I took my time crossing the street, soaking up the sun, and waving to the motorists waiting patiently for me to reach the other side.

JayWok smelled of soy sauce and memories, and I inhaled as deeply as I could. My legs were shaking from muscle fatigue, but I was determined to make it all the way to my favorite booth in the back. My stomach rumbled when I reached my destination, sliding all the way across the seat, next to the window. I lifted my face to the sun, breathing in, trying to remember what it was like to be happy. All my best memories were with Josh. I wasn’t sure I wanted to make new ones.

Coco approached my table, beaming. “I was wondering when you would get your fanny in here. How’ve you been?”

“Healing,” I said. “Better.”

“Good. The usual?”

I thought about it for a moment. “Yes.”

She nodded once and disappeared into the back, emerging moments later with a drink in hand. I thanked her.

I took a sip, listening to the chatter, the door chime as customers came and left, the muted honking and dogs barking in the street. It was a regular day for anyone else. For Deb and Quinn, tonight would be the first of many dates. I wondered if it would play out the way I’d imagined, or if they would make their own path to happiness.

Coco placed a plate in front of me, spice and savory rolling up to my nose with the steam. “Oh, my God. That smells so good. Thank you, Coco.”

“Of course. Hopefully it will clear out soon. I’m dying to catch up.”

“Yeah. That would be really great,” I said, grateful for the potential company. It had been a long time since I’d had to eat alone. At least, it felt that way.

I absentmindedly poked at the rice with my fork, watching the world carry on outside the large window. Traffic splashed into view, disappearing just as quickly.

A white sack hit the table in front of me, crinkling in the grip of a man’s hand. I startled, and then my gaze traveled up to the wrist, stopping on a loose hospital bracelet. The tiny letters compiled a lot of information: date of birth, blood type, but it was the name that left me frozen.

Avery, Josh
.

I sucked in a sharp gasp and held it, hoping if I had somehow drifted back into unconsciousness, I wouldn’t wake from this moment.

“Eating alone?” he asked.

My eyes followed the arm up to the shoulder, the neck, the gaunt, but familiar eyes. Josh.
My
Josh. He was looking down at me with an exhausted but sweet half smile, flattening his other hand on the table to steady his weak legs.

His eyebrow rose as he waited for me to respond.

I looked down at my rice and back to him, terrified for half a second that he wouldn’t be there. But he was. He moved as a customer accidentally bumped into him, muttering an apology before moving on.

“I’m sorry?” I asked.

“Eating alone?”

My heart throbbed at the sound of his voice. It was exactly as I had remembered. I pressed my lips together, and then smiled as tears clouded my vision.

“Pathetic, isn’t it?” I asked past the lump in my throat.

“Oh, I don’t know. I think it’s kind of romantic.”

THE END

Jamie McGuire
was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended Northern Oklahoma College, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Autry Technology Center where she graduated with a degree in Radiography.

Jamie paved the way for the New Adult genre with the international bestseller
Beautiful Disaster
. Her follow-up novel,
Walking Disaster
, debuted at #1 on the
New York Times, USA Today
, and
Wall Street Journal
bestseller lists.
Beautiful Oblivion
, book one of the Maddox Brothers series, also topped the
New York Times
bestseller list, debuting at #1.

Novels also written by Jamie McGuire include: apocalyptic thriller and 2014 UtopYA Best Dystopian Book of the Year,
Red Hill
; the
Providence
trilogy, a young adult paranormal romance trilogy; Apolonia, a dark sci-fi romance; and several novellas, including
A Beautiful Wedding
,
Among Monsters
,
Happenstance
: A Novella Series, and
Sins of the Innocent
.

Jamie is the first indie author in history to strike a print deal with retail giant Wal-Mart. Her self-published novel,
Beautiful Redemption
hit shelves in September, 2015.

Jamie lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with her husband, Jeff, and their three children.

Find Jamie at
www.jamiemcguire.com
or on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Tsu, and Instagram.

Teresa Mummert
grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where she began dating her husband when they were only sixteen years old. They married at eighteen and soon moved to Louisiana as her husband began his military career. They are the proud parents of four children that they are raising in Georgia.

Teresa began writing when her husband was deployed to Afghanistan as a way to cope with him being away at war. She soon became a
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author. Her work includes, the word of mouth bestselling,
White Trash Trilogy
which landed her a three book publishing deal with Simon & Schuster
.
She has also written
the
New York Times and USA Today
bestselling novel
The Note,
the
USA Today
bestselling novel
Safe Word, Perfect Lie, Pretty Little Things
, the
Honor
series
, Rellik, The Good Girls, Something Wicked,
and
Crave
. Find Teresa at
www.TeresaMummert.com
.