Chapter Six

Selena

The Cold Shoulder Game

I loved spending my afternoons at Maggie’s Diner. I practically grew up amidst its red vinyl booths and home-style cooking courtesy of my grandmother. The owner, Nancy, bought the place from the Mendelsons two years back when their son, chasing dreams in bigger cities, thought owning a diner was boring. Blond and buxom Nancy was like a long lost aunt to me. But no matter how much I begged, Maggie’s just didn’t have any openings. I needed a part-time job like yesterday.

Sighing into my milkshake, I scanned the Want Ads in the Newcastle Daily. Dog walker didn’t appeal to me. The movie theater only had day shifts. I needed something right after school and just until Grams got out of her shift at the diner. And preferably nearby. Gramps used the truck most of the day, and Grams took me to school in her car. Maybe the dog-walking job wasn’t so bad.

Guys laughing pulled my attention from the newspaper. My heart twisted then beat faster the second I spotted Bowen walk in with his swimming buddies. Usually, they had practice in the mornings and afternoons. My forehead wrinkled. The only reason I felt comfortable going to Maggie’s sans the best friends was because I was confident I wouldn’t run into the ex.

Annoyed, I fished out my cellphone. I took a picture of him joking around with his buddies and sent it to both Kyle and Penny with the word deserter. We learned what it meant in history class. They should have been here to act as my buffers.

But, just as soon as it started, I stopped my feeling-sorry-for-myself moment. I shouldn’t be hiding behind my friends. I survived three weeks of summer without them after finding Bowen feeling up Sally Thompson at the Stop and Pump when Gramps asked me to fill up the truck. I could definitely take care of myself.

Two seconds later, their replies came one after the other. Both sent me wink-y faces like they were in on some joke. So much for friendship. Why I continued to love them, I had no idea.

Lamenting my half-eaten burger and fries, I stuffed all my books inside my pack, including the daily paper, and slid out of the booth. My phone went into my back pocket. No time like the present to make the walk to Miller’s grocery and take care of the list Grams had given me.

“Leavin’ already, dear?” Nancy asked from the counter.

My shoulders hitched up as I froze mid-step. Of course it was too much to ask that I leave without getting noticed. Plastering a cordial smile on my face, I said, “Yeah. I’m heading off to Miller’s.”

Before she could say anything else, and especially before Bowen noticed me from the corner booth, I rushed out of the diner. Thankfully, Grams was busy in the kitchen, or she would have called after me as well.

Just as I crossed the street and relief filled my chest, heavy footsteps trailed my sneakered ones. I didn’t stop, adjusting my pack on my shoulders. Please don’t let it be him.

“Selena!”

Crap!

I kept moving. Maybe if I ignored him enough he would lose interest and leave me alone.

A large hand wrapped around my arm, yanking me around.

Apparently, not.

“Hey!” I yanked my arm out of his grip. “What’s the matter with you?”

Bowen raised his hands in surrender and backed up a step. “You weren’t stopping.”

“Yeah? Maybe that’s because I didn’t want to stop and talk to you. Ever think of that?”

His eyebrows came together. “Look, Nancy said you were headed for Miller’s.”

I silently cursed my supposedly long-lost aunt and her unassuming kindness. She knew what Bowen did. The whole freakin’ town did, and yet, she was polite enough to answer him when he asked where I was going. Kindness hurt sometimes.

“And that’s your business because?” I left the heat in my tone. I couldn’t let myself think about the two years of my life that I wasted on him because I’d begin to cry. I did enough of that weeks ago. My annoyance sparked into anger. Unadulterated anger.

“Come on.” He hiked a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll give you a ride.”

My eyes flashed. “And why would I get into a truck with you?”

“Because Miller’s is a mile away, and hefting grocery bags back to your house isn’t an easy thing.” He raised a hand to stall my next tirade. “Look, I get it. I’m an asshole. Hate me. In fact, you have the right to. But don’t deny me a good act when I’m clearly offering.”

Damn. He was right about the groceries. Walking home with my pack filled with books plus however many grocery bags would suck. I hated myself for accepting the offer.

Muttering, I trudged toward his car. Bowen ran to my side and opened my door. I slipped in without thanking him. Dropping my pack at my feet and buckling in, I focused on the road. He started the truck and pulled into traffic.

In my periphery, I noticed him opened his mouth a couple times then shut it just as fast. He’d never been someone at a loss for words. I knew him as the confident athlete with an easy smile. Not this guy who awkwardly tried and failed to fill the silence between us.

…

The second Bowen killed the engine, I muttered a quick thanks and slipped out, slinging my pack over my shoulder. The opening and closing of his door almost made me groan. I didn’t look back, shuffling as fast as I could into the store. The automatic doors slid aside when I neared them, and a blast of air ruffled my curls. I headed straight for the carts, but the second my hand closed around the bar of one, Bowen’s larger hand closed around it beside mine. The sides of our fists touched, and I let go immediately.

“Bowen,” I barked. It seemed he wasn’t leaving me alone any time soon.

“Can I push?” he asked.

“Will you leave me alone if I let you?”

He nodded.

Rolling my shoulders to ease some of the tension there, I walked away. He clearly followed based on the squeaking wheels that trailed me into the canned goods section. I figured I might as well make use of him while we were here. Memories of going grocery shopping with him hit me hard. We used to do it all the time until…

“Grab a can of SPAM, will you?” I flicked my hand to the top of the shelf, but really I was flicking away the stupid, useless memory. Bowen complied like a soldier, efficient and without question. I dug out the list from my pack and checked it. “Okay, now we need milk.”

He nodded as if he would milk a cow to get it if necessary.

I gave him a sidelong glance. “Why are you doing this? What? Sally already dump you?”

Never letting go of the cart handle, he said, “There’s nothing between Sally and me.”

Grabbing two cartons of milk, I did my best to avoid his expectant gaze. “That didn’t stop your tongue from playing tonsil hockey with hers.”

“Come on, Selena. I made a mistake. I get that. Please, let me make it up to you.”

“There’s no going back for us. Don’t you get it?” I didn’t want to get into this now, but since he started it… “You cheated on me. That’s not something I can get over.”

“Everyone makes mistakes.” He pushed the cart faster to keep up with my quickening stride. The faster we finished, the sooner we could say good-bye. Excuses swirled in my head. I had to figure out how to get out of riding home with him.

“Yes, but it doesn’t mean I’d let you off the hook because of it.” I looked into his eyes, making sure he saw the hurt I wasn’t trying to hide anymore.

“I’m not saying you should.” He met me stare for stare. “I’m just asking for a second chance.”

“But…” I bit my lip, considering his words. Damn. I shouldn’t be considering his words. Penny’s voice bounced around in my head, telling me I was being too nice.

He put one of his strong hands on my shoulder and turned me to face him. I reluctantly met his gaze.

“But what?”

“But I don’t miss you.” It was the truth, yet instant remorse closed my throat. When I broke up with him, I cried. I felt betrayed. But when I pulled myself back together, I realized I didn’t miss him. At all. Yes, I enjoyed the two years we’d spent together. But now that I was free of him, I didn’t regret it one bit. A part of me even felt relieved that he cheated. I was pissed more at the fact that his cheating on me made it seem like those two years didn’t matter to him at all.

Bowen’s lips disappeared into a hard line. A muscle along his jaw jumped. He let go of my shoulder and white-knuckled the pushcart’s bar. His eyes blazed with barely controlled anger. The lines of his face seemed harsher. His shoulders twitched upward. A ripple went through his body, like he was trying hard to remain calm.

“Something wrong here?”

Oh, great. Just what I needed. My head whipped to my left. Dillan Sloan clutched a jumbo bag of chips with both hands. His expression unreadable. My gaze went beyond his shoulder to the end of the aisle where Mr. Sloan stood reading the back of a cereal box.

“Just walk away, Dillan,” I said, glancing at Bowen. “Nothing to see here.”

Bowen breathed in deep. His fiery gaze never left my face.

“Hello, Ms. Fallon. Bowen.” Mr. Sloan joined us and parked his cart behind Dillan.

“Oh, hi, Mr. Sloan.” I forced a smile on my face.

“Mr. Sloan.” Bowen nodded at our teacher.

“Have you met my nephew?” Mr. Sloan inclined his head toward Dillan.

“Dillan Sloan.”

“Bowen Gage.” They clasped hands. “Heard a lot about you.”

“Small school.”

“Small town.” Bowen released Dillan’s hand.

I wanted to get out of there. All of them acting so cordial made me sick. If Dillan hadn’t butted in, I could have finished what I started and hopefully ended this thing. Bowen was clearly pissed by what I said. Maybe if he held on to that emotion long enough, he’d forget about wanting that second chance.

Dillan glanced my way while Bowen and Mr. Sloan started a conversation about the team stats this season. I didn’t meet his gaze. Let him think what he wanted. This morning, he practically treated me like a leper he couldn’t stand to touch. Now, his eyes darted from my face to Bowen’s like he expected something to happen. I wasn’t going to explain myself to someone who gave me death stares.

“By the way,” Bowen’s eerily calm voice tore my attention away from stewing over Dillan, “I just remembered something I need to do.” His blank eyes landed on me. “Do you mind finding your own way home?”

“Yeah.” I swallowed my relief. “Sure. I’ll figure something out.”

“Good.” A flat smile. “Nice meeting you, Dillan.”

Without waiting for a response, and only giving Mr. Sloan a nod, Bowen made his way out of the store. I exhaled the long awaited sigh I’d been holding in.

“Do you want us to give your grandmother a call?” Mr. Sloan suggested.

I shook my head. “Her shift doesn’t end until later.” Plus, I didn’t need my grandmother knowing I was at the store with Bowen. Although, something told me it wouldn’t be long until she found out. Then my gaze returned to Dillan. My brain refused to understand why he scowled at me like I’d just finished kicking a puppy. What’s his deal?

“Are you—”

“She’s fine, Rainer,” he interrupted.

Mr. Sloan frowned. “What did I tell you about calling me by my first name in public?”

Dillan dropped his gaze.

“We’ll talk about it later.” He tsked at his nephew before asking me, “Do you want a ride home?”

I thought about it. Endure a ride with Dillan or walk home? Four miles was no joke with groceries plus my backpack. I steeled myself and said, “Thanks. That would be great.”

Dillan’s scowl turned murderous.