Sawyer must have taken off at some point because his truck came into view, and he didn’t even slow down. We jumped into the bed of his Chevy, and he hit the gas. I couldn’t help myself. I turned around and locked eyes with Sage as she watched us hightail it out of there.
Our eyes never wavered from each other, and for the first and not last time in my life, I felt regret for what could have been. I wouldn’t see her again until years later, and by that time.
Everything had changed.
Everything.
Except…
My feelings for her.
Chapter 4
—Sage—
I watched them leave, and it made me feel sad.
Should I have gone with him? Why did it feel like I’d made a mistake?
I didn’t even get his number. I’d never see him again.
“Babe, I’m sorry,” Memphis expressed, bringing my troubled gaze back to him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
He caressed the side of my face. “You sure are.”
This was Memphis, always the charmer. It was what made me fall for him in the first place. His flirty demeanor and banter worked like magic every single time he used his Casanova antics on me.
Although, this time, they weren’t carrying the same effect as they once did.
Was it because of Ashton? How could he impact me like this when I’d only just met him?
“Did you dress up for me?”
I nodded. It was the truth, I did.
“Sage.” Aspyn glared at Memphis. “Maybe we should go?”
“How about you leave, so I can be alone with Sage on her sweet sixteen?”
“Or…” she accentuated, cocking her head at him with her middle finger on her chin in a sarcastic gesture. “How about you eat shit and die?”
“Aspyn…”
“Oh, come on, Sage. You’re not falling for his shit again? He only wants you because someone else was interested.”
“Aspyn, why don’t you let Sage make her own decisions? Newsflash, you aren’t her mother.”
“Newsflash, you aren’t her boyfriend. You broke up with her.”
“And I’ve regretted it every day since.”
She scoffed out a snide chuckle, “Where were you this evening then? When everyone who loves her was singing her Happy Birthday, huh?”
“I was buying her gift.” He pulled out a small wrapped box from the inside of his jacket, and she eyed him skeptically. “Now, will you leave us alone?”
Still not convinced, she gazed over at me. “I’ll do whatever you want, Sage.”
I peered back and forth between them for a few moments until I responded with, “I’m okay. We will meet up later, alright?”
She reluctantly sighed, not happy with my answer. “I have my phone. Text me when you’re ready to leave.”
With that, she left, leaving me alone with the guy I’d referred to as the enemy only hours earlier.
“Come on, let’s get you a drink, birthday girl.” He grabbed my hand and led the way inside.
I thought about Ashton the entire time.
What was he going to say to me?
I could barely keep up with Memphis’s stride; he was walking really fast for some reason or another. Finally, after what felt like forever from having to push through the crowds of people at this party, we made it to the punch bowl. I was blown away by the fact that one of Ashton’s friends had sex with the mother of this house, and we weren’t kicked out.
What kind of family was this?
I shook away the thought, grabbing the drink that Memphis handed me. I didn’t have to be told twice, I drank the entire cup down. Wanting to forget about the stupid boy who just liked to play the part of the hero for the night.
“I guess I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress.”
“Sage, I really am sorry. Are you alright?”
“Maybe you should’ve thought about me before you hit him?”
“He should’ve known better than to put his hands on what’s mine.”
“I’m not yours, Memphis. You broke up with me, remember?”
“You know I didn’t mean it, Sage. You know I’m crazy about you, but what am I supposed to do? I’m going out of state for college, for the next four years. You know my dad wants me to go to law school. I have to carry on the family name.”
Memphis came from one of the richest families in our town. They came from a long line of wealthy, successful attorneys. I once overheard his father state on a phone call that he charged a thousand dollars per hour. His family was always nice to me for the most part. His mom seemed lonely, though.
“Yeah, whatever.”
I served myself another drink and then another one after that. I didn’t drink often, and I was definitely what you would call a lightweight. Things started to get a little fuzzy after that last drink, and I was beginning to feel better about the whole night in general.
“Did your slutty friend dress you?”
“Don’t talk about Aspyn that way. She’s the furthest thing from that.”
It was true. She was picky and had high standards. She never had a boyfriend and had no interest in one either. She was as independent as they come, and I admired that about her.
“Why doesn’t she like me? I’ve never done anything to her for her to treat me the way she does.”
“She’s just being protective over me. It has nothing to do with you.”
“She knows I love you, Sage.”
“Do you, Memphis?”
He brushed the hair away from my face. “Of course, I do. You’re my girl.” Leaning in, he kissed me.
Normally, I’d be weak in the knees for Memphis’s lips on mine. He was the best kisser.
Well, not anymore. Ashton.
He didn’t taste like him.
He didn’t smell like him.
He didn’t feel like him.
Stop thinking about him, Sage. He’s gone. You’re never going to see him again.
“I missed you, baby,” Memphis whispered in between kissing me. “Come on, I want to show you your present.”
I served myself another drink and finished it off by the time we were outside walking through the woods.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise, birthday girl. Now.” He grabbed the cup out of my hands and placed it on the grass. Blocking my eyes from behind me, he ordered, “Close your eyes.”
I didn’t consider the severity of what he was suggesting until we were already alone and in front of his surprise. He moved his hands away, and I opened my gaze.
“Wow…” was all I managed to express.
Gradually, I looked around at the bed of his truck which was parked near a river. The full moon was beaming above our heads, accentuating the makeshift bed he’d made for us. I stumbled back a little, and it was only then I realized how drunk I truly was. The booze running through my veins made it easy to follow his lead.