Loving Jude

a cold drink

ter completing our tour of the Sports Co

trying to avoid any type of interaction with Jude. He mi

him. I can go with him to get them and escape

Tori. “Tori? Wa

eave, I’ll be lef

and grab his arm. “

in and whispers. “She has been down all aftern

e bothered about her low mood. And, after her reaction about

into getting Jude’s attention as she

his arm and

leachers and wait for us.

water,

it.

milkshake, but that would make them stay away

hand and leads the wa

me. He’s staring at me openly, one eyebrow arched. I walk past him and up

s right behind me. It’s as if every c

, but I didn’t think yo

and look up

Eli and Tori walked in. “She’s obviously

then scof

belie

e best

O

ed up specifically for you,

what sh

er me isn’t helping my fight against the c

in your place to t

ull togeth

memory, or have you become a

a what you’re

ly and finally takes a seat

ur problem

r at himself. “Wh

es

unbeli

omeone who went quiet for three years

I can’t take any more of this attitude h

s me, his eyes narrow

ny exc

ck are you t

ans

speechless. Then he shoots to his feet

, I

seethe. “You told me t

ha

nd laughs. “I can’t believe

nd walks towards the stairs. I sh

d I tell you to s

grip. “I can’t deal with

? No, h

d face me. “You are the one who left, and you’re the o

ter he left going. I thought I’d run into his arms and hold him tigh

the letters? Have you been so busy fucking y

half of his sente

huffs and

om him, letting him know I’m

back to me. “The

“I didn’t get any

implies he does not bel

es

never bothered

any letter f

narrowing. “Cole didn

le?

ng into mine. “Are you trying

know. He never gav

s, and you refused to write back. You said it was better if I forgot a

so hard they wear out. “I’m telling you he d

k, Jo. St

lying!”

g on? Is he telling t

oving backwards, I lower

wouldn’

ould

, but he wouldn’t lie about

ying. But I still don’t believe he kept something like tha

d you se

supposed to be talking to you at that point. I wrote another one after another six months. He said you wan

sed I’m not lying. He sits back down. “When I finally got my phone back

e never said anything. I was around him a

scrubs his han

feel real yet. I’ve spent three years thinki

ld Cole

re b

here they are, coming up the stairs. I di

k. Jude straightens and reaches for the wat

notice he’s carrying a chocolate

t. I’ve never needed my

ffer. I wrap my fingers around the

u guys been bondi

o my mouth and focus my

l,” Jude

gh

*

campus. Before my conversation with Jude, I would have l

no

ing has

avoid him and he doesn’t h

been better since they came back from gettin

ld be. She’s probably doing much better than most of the girls and women around us right now. The

s appeal seems to have

sit on the ends while Tori and I settle in the

e of Jude’s presence throughout dinner. Once or

f the letters so I can move on from this. The so

e walk us back to our apartment building

kiss. “I’ll see you t

the kiss but because I ca

why, but I’

k. We say our good

ice, we’ll finish our c