Forever Read Free Page B

down between Jake and me. I try to put it out of my mind.

    T he Spence pays for both our movie tickets; an IMAX showing, so it sets him back $32. He makes it a point to flash the wad of cash in his wallet to impress me.

    I ’m sufficiently impressed .

    O nce inside the theater , he buys a huge tub of popcorn for us to share. And when I say huge, I mean HUGE. You could bathe in the size of that tub. We pair it with large cokes and junior mints.

    O nly a few others are in the theater. We sit in the middle, away from any big-headed people who could block our view.

    O nce the movie starts , The Spence reaches for my hand. I like this less aggressive, more respectful side of him. Our finger’s interlock and stay that way throughout the entire movie.

    A fterward , the lights go up and the theater empties. The cleaning crew enters.

    “ L et ’s walk this popcorn binge off,” I suggest to, The Spence.

    W e walk out , hand and hand. We leave our cars in the parking lot and walk down the street in silence until we come upon a small, urban park with monkey bars and swings.

    I race , The Spence to the swings and beat him. He takes it pretty well.

    I plop myself onto a swing ; shuffle steps backward as far as I can go before I release my feet and swing forward. I pump my legs with reckless abandon in my effort to touch the stars.

    T he Spence and I laugh our guts out as we continue to try to outdo each other. But I have a trick up my sleeve.

    I pump my legs and swing as high as humanly possible. When I’m at the zenith of height, I jump off the swing!

    I do a summersault before landing on my back.

    T he Spence , races to my side, “What the hell?” his words mixed with equal parts concern and adulation.

    I giggle uncontrollably which signals to, The Spence, that I’m okay with no bones broken.

    H e bends over and steals a kiss before he lays down next to me. We gaze up at the stars.

    W hy hadn’t Jake and I had this kind of fun before? We started off hot and heavy, with nowhere left to go.

    I like being silly , laughing and playing on the swings. But I wish I had shared this evening with Jake instead of, The Spence.

    “ D o you think love , no matter how wrong, should take precedence over everything else?” I innocently ask, The Spence; giving no hint as to the magnitude his response will have on me.

    T he Spence turns around to face me. “That all depends,” he says.

    “ I ’ll bite . Depends on what?” I ask.

    “ O n whether you ’re talking about me… or Jake.”

    I sit up . What did he just say? Did he say, Jake?

    “ I t’s pretty obvious the two of you had feelings for each other.”

    “ I t was ?” I say. “How?”

    “ N o one gets as messed up over a girl unless they’ve boned her,” The Spence says so eloquently.”

    “ Y ou knew the entire time ?” I questioned.

    “ P retty much . But after the two of you broke up, I figured I had a chance… Do I, Sidney… have a chance?”

    I so much want to say yes… but I can’t. I still want Jake. I’ve tried severing ties, but it’s not working.

    I turn to , The Spence and sit on his lap. I clasp my hands behind his neck and pull him close. I kiss him, just once. Of course, the guy slips in the tongue and shoves his hand down the back of my pants.

    I slap his hand away as I stand. “You can’t let it be just about a goodbye kiss, now could you?”

    T he Spence stands up , “Knew it would be my last opp.”

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    T he next day , I leave work early and ask my mom to meet me at home. Of course, she’s concerned.

    I don’t know how she’s going to take it. My biggest fear is that she won’t be able to look at me after I tell her.

    W e sit at the kitchen table, across from each other. She pours herself a glass of wine in preparation for the news.

    I ask her just to listen first until I’ve said everything I’m going to say.

    M y hands shake , my voice quivers as I utter the five words that could break her…