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“Soaze trails off before returning “But your brother said you didn’t … so … what have you been up to all this time?”

The un of a Travis Tritt nuroup of local bikers parade in and set up camp at the nearest pool table

“You want to go outside and talk?” I ask

She doesn’t answer, not i I lead her out the back door, to the alley entrance One step outside and we’re engulfed in the deafening quietude of a Whiskey Springs Friday night

“Honestly, Wyatt,” she begins as soon as the door sla with you” Blaire threads her fingers through her hair before gazing up at the stars overhead “I can’t tell you how s I wanted to say to you … and now that you’re here … I don’t even knohere to start …” Her voice breaks and her eyes water, but in the blink of an eye, she composes herself and it’s like it never happened “Do you have any idea what it’s like to hate the one person you love?”

Sort of

But not in a way that I can explain to her—not here, not now, and not in this way

Maybe not ever

There are certain things ashas I’m not proud of

But I know the feeling—to love and to hate the same person

“Do you have any idea what it feels like to be discarded by the one person you thought loved youin the whole world?” she asks another question “Iout loud, Wyatt You didn’t even writeAll I wanted to knohy But instead you left , unanswered question that has haunted me my entire adult life”

“I’m sorry that I hurt you, Blaire,” I say It kills s don’t always turn out the ant them to I wish they’d have been different”

A thick tear slides down her cheek She swipes it away and crosses her arms

“Did you … did you cheat on me? Is that what happened?” she asks

“Never”

“Did you go to prison or so?”