Truly Wanted by J. J. Hale

Author:J. J. Hale [Hale, J.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2022-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

One week. Seven days. That’s how long it had been since she’d seen Brooke. Probably the longest in at least five years. Sam picked Finley up from Maddie on Sunday for their date. She was both relieved and disappointed when Maddie texted to say Finley was with her. Sam assumed Brooke went out with Dani on Saturday night. She ignored the stab in her chest at that thought.

It was Wednesday, the second time they would miss their lunch date. Sam was all too aware of that fact. Lexi invited her to her latest art exhibition that night. She was actually looking forward to it.

But something was missing, and Sam knew it was her best friend. She missed the ease when they talked. She missed how Brooke knew what Sam was feeling even before Sam did. She missed knowing that there was one person in the world she could talk to about anything with no judgment. She missed Brooke with an intensity that proved to her, no amount of waiting around for these feelings to subside was going to work. The longer she avoided this, the harder it was going to be.

Sam picked up her phone. Brooke hadn’t reached out past those messages last week, but Sam had asked her not to. It was the longest they had gone without talking since she remembered. Sam had to make the first move.

She rang Brooke’s number, willing her to pick up. It rang and rang and eventually went to voicemail. Brooke was avoiding her. She always had her phone with her at work. Sam sighed. She had asked for this, so she couldn’t really complain.

She closed her eyes and leaned back, then her heart sank. She checked the calendar, then sank even further into her seat. It was Jacob’s anniversary. What kind of friend was she? How could Brooke ever forgive this? Not only had Sam been cold to her, pushing her away and not answering her last message, but she also forgot her husband’s anniversary. Didn’t even message, never mind show up and be there for her.

The past two years on Jake’s anniversary, Sam had been there. They had celebrated his life together, doing things he loved to do and telling Finley the best stories about his dad. They ate his favourite foods and ice cream and then finished off the evening with Maddie, watching the stars on the beach like they used to when they were in college.

She ached to be there now, doing all those things. For Brooke mostly, but also for herself. She had loved Jake like a brother. She couldn’t believe he was gone three years already. She remembered the night he died like it was yesterday. A drunk driver ran a red light and Jake didn’t stand a chance.

She remembered the incoherent voicemail she had received from Brooke. The terror as she drove to the hospital, no idea what she was going to be met with. Sam was lucky she understood the hospital name in Brooke’s message and just went straight there.

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