It wasn't until he helped me into the ambulance that he finally spoke.
"Stop crying. If you're ever out late again, text me. I'll come get you."
That was how we exchanged numbers.
And how our story began.
The memory drew a bitter smile from my lips.
I still didn't understand how we'd ended up here.
The wine had gone to my head. I excused myself to find the restroom.
I never expected to pass the smoking area and hear Laura's tittering laughter.
"Did you see her face just now? I almost died."
"After all these years, she still has no idea you're the one who told us to lock that door, Jeffrey."
I froze. Ice crawled up my spine, and my knees nearly buckled.
His voice carried a note of weary resignation.
"Don't keep bringing up the past. I was young and stupid."
"Oh, please. Don't tell me you still feel guilty? You hated her constant crying back then too. Dating her, marrying her—you've basically thrown away half your life on her."
"Exactly. Our Jeffrey had girls lining up for him back then, and look at him now. If you ask me, she made out like a bandit."
"Hey, what do you think would happen if I messed with her again? Would she still be as fun as before?"
Jeffrey cut her off instantly.
"I'm warning you—don't even think about it."
"Okay, okay, we get it..."
Their voices grew closer. When the door swung open, tears had already blurred my vision—but I could still make out the smile that hadn't quite faded from Jeffrey's face.
It vanished into panic.
"Jill..."
