My voice stops mid-apology when I see who I’m talking to.
Honey Sanderson.
Well, I knew this little reunion was going to happen at some point; I guess I thought I just had a little more time to think about what I was going to say.
“Jamie?” Her voice is as strangled and tight as the bun on her head. It goes with her white, collared shirt and black skirt, but it’s so un-Honey, it makes no sense.
Why is she walking around campus looking like she’s about to go to a meeting with her dad?
“What the hell are you doing here?” she says when she’s managed to regain some composure.
I flash a smile, feigning confidence. “Wow, after two years that’s how you’re going to greet your ex-fiancé?” I rub my jaw, laughing nervously. “I mean, I know I was an asshole, but I thought I’d at least get a hello.”
Her lips press together as she crosses her arms. “Answer the fucking question, Nicks.”
Well, this is a different Honey than I left behind. The Honey I knew in high school wouldn’t speak to anyone like that. Letalone me. That was the worst part about her. She never knew when to protect herself or understood her true worth.
Thank God, Zach saved her. She deserved better than me.
She keeps staring, and that’s when I know she’s not going to let me leave until I give her a response.
“Getting breakfast,” I say, gesturing to the sandwich in my hand. “You?”
She closes her eyes and blows out a breath. “Look. I know it’s hard for you not to be an asshole, but I’d really appreciate it if you tried for at least five seconds. Why are you in Hope?” Her voice is tired. She’s not angry. She’s just done with me. “Please don’t tell me you’re here to mess with Tiff because she doesn’t deserve that. She’s happy and Ella is too. She doesn’t need you or your melodramatic family causing issues.”
“I'm not here to mess with anyone.” I shift my weight, suddenly aware of how pathetic I must look to her. “I'm here for Ella. My daughter, in case you forgot.”
“Oh, believe me, my boyfriend fathering a child while he’s still dating me is something hard to forget.”
“Yeah.” I scratch the back of my head, not sure where to look. “I deserved that.”
“Oh, you deserve a hell of a lot more than that.” She studies me for a second, taking in my rumpled appearance and no doubt haphazard hair. “You look like shit.”
“Feel worse, but I’m not here to do my father’s bidding. I’m here for Ella, and I have no intentions on leaving.”
“You’re staying?!
I shrug. “Yup. I’ve officially transferred to St. Michael’s. Started classes this week. Surprised it’s the first time I’ve seen you.”
“Your father let you—”
“My father cut me off,” I interrupt. “Froze everything. So yeah, I'm here on my own dime. What's left of it, anyway. Thankfully, Asher is smarter than he looks, so I’m good for a little while.”
She stares at me like I’m a stranger, but I feel the same way about her. She’s different now. I can feel it. She’s got that Zach Evans edge about her. Speaking of…
“Didn’t Zach tell you I was here?” I ask, watching her face carefully. If Zach hasn’t told her, then maybe my suspicions are right. Maybe they’re done. It would explain why the guy is wound up tighter than a spring at the moment, snapping at everyone, looking like he's one bad day away from unraveling.
Honey frowns but quickly masks it. “No. He didn’t tell me.”
“He didn’t?” I press, because I might be changing my ways, but I could still use some gossip that I’m not part of.
“Zach and I aren't together,” she says quietly, looking away.
And there it is. The confirmation. Zach Evans, the golden boy who had everything I didn't—including the girl I was supposed to marry—has somehow managed to fumble the ball.
What a fucking idiot.
Honey is the best thing to have ever happened to him.