I really didn’t like that he’d left me alone, with my only option West.
I shook out of it, all but sprinting down the bouncy ramp, off the boat, and to the dock.
I should’ve been happy. The closer they get, the closer I get to my debt repaid. I was one step closer to ending this weird thing between us.
“That’s it?” West called at my back, his heavy footfalls slamming into the ramp. “No thank you?”
“I’ll send you a card,” I muttered.
He laughed, running to catch up to me. “Are you going after him?”
“Stop following me,” I said.
“Story, come on, let me explain.”
I stopped, but only because Lottie and Gray looked about to kiss, and my heart was cracking like glass. I spun away from the image.
“Why now, West? Because for four years you haven’t cared at all about me, and now suddenly I’m all you can think about.”
He ran a knuckle down my cheek. “You’ve been all I can think about for four years. I tried contacting you, but you must have changed your number.”
I definitely hadn’t changed my number. Hadn’t changed anything. Was still the same girl he’d once asked for a light, working in the same spot.
“I heard what you said about me,” I said. “The maid whose V-card you got.”
He dropped his hand. “What did you hear?”
“All of it.”
“I was a different guy then, Story. It was a stupid bet.”
Bet.
I didn’t know that part of the story.
Everything was a bet. My virginity was just a bet. My love was just a bet. My heartbreak, confusion…
When we’d had sex, I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want it. But I didn’t say no. I’d tried to make my intentions clear by pushing him away, by not kissing him back, by saying words like wait and can we slow down and I don’t think I’m ready…but in the end…I didn’t say no, and he didn’t ask for my yes. I should’ve been mad, right? I should’ve hashtagged his ass or something, but I just kept hoping he would call me.
And it was all over a fucking bet.
“A bet.” I repeated the words, the answer to the question that had haunted me for four years. Why did he leave? Why didn’t he respond to my texts? It was all just a bet.
“What did you win?” My voice was dead, too low.
“Story…”
“Just wondering what I’m worth,” I said, mouth thick and cottony. “I think you at least owe me that.”
West rubbed the back of his head. “I don’t know.”
“Just tell me.”
“Bragging rights.”
I opened then closed my mouth. I wasn’t sure there was any right answer to my question, but that was definitely the wrong one.
“Congratulations,” I said, numb.