Forgotten First Kiss

Chapter 14

For a few days, I seethed in my annoyance. I called different friends, asking them what they’d thought when they’d seen me hanging out with Jeremy Hotston, asking why they hadn’t stopped me. They made excuses. My frustration grew.

But so did missing Jeremy. No matter how upset I’d been with him in the moment, I longed for him.

After a week, I broke down and texted Jeremy.

No reply.

That was worse than getting a scathing message in return. Radio silence.

Snow fell. I was cleared to drive again. The gymnastics business boomed. Liam and Tennille moved for real, but her younger sister—whom I’d always loved—hired on at Constant Energy and whipped all of us into business shape. I had her to thank for the uptick in sales and the transformation of the place. I only had to show up and teach now. It was the best. The kids were the best.

My sister Angelica came on the weekends to quilt with Mom. I went and helped stitch both a pink and a blue quilt with them, since Angelica and Brady insisted on not finding out their baby’s gender prior to the birth.

We finalized plans for the baby shower.

Meanwhile, my own world went from dim to pitch dark. Without Jeremy, it was like when my collie, Lady, had died when I was nine years old. It shouldn’t have felt like a death without a funeral, but it did. It almost made me wish my memories of falling in love with Jeremy Hotston—twice—hadn’t come back. Like, maybe I should hit my head again and they’d selectively delete.

I ran into Garrett Boltinghouse at the grocery store. Mom’s insistence I give him a chance echoed back to me.

I ignored it and instead asked, “Have you heard from Jeremy? It’s been weeks.” And then, the dam burst. Right there in front of the boxed brownie mix display, a place that should have given me comfort. Instead, I emitted a sniffling, disgusting, donkey-cry.

“Hi, Danica.” Garrett left his cart near me, and disappeared for a few seconds, only to return with a stack of napkins from the deli. “You’re genuinely upset.”

More like I was creating a scene. People heard me and steered their carts away from the frosting and birthday candles aisle. “Jeremy ghosted me.”

“Maybe he’s out of cell range.”

“Nowhere on earth is out of cell range.” I could have stomped my foot, but then I remembered he was in the Army Reserve and might have to do his two-week camp, so there was a chance he could be out of cell range. “What should I do?”

“You actually like him.” Garrett looked dubious. “He ruined Angelica’s wedding. Everyone knows you can’t forgive him.”

“Everyone?” Jeremy had talked about me to Garrett, it was clear. “Garrett. What do you know?” I could have grabbed him by the collar and shaken the details from him.

Unfortunately, Garrett was Fort Knox. “I’m his family.”

I wished I could be, too, though. Not that Jeremy would believe that. “At least tell me one thing—Jeremy’s favorite meal.”

“Uh, Danica. You don’t cook.”

“How would you know that?”

“You and I had culinary class together in high school. Until they reassigned you to sewing class.”

“It was wood shop.”

“My point stands.” Garrett’s posture fell. “Fine. He loves traditional holiday dinners like ham and rolls and mashed potatoes and gravy. He likes a jell-o thing his mom used to make, but I have no idea how you’d get that recipe.”

“What was in the jell-o?” Not just jell-o? “Please don’t say shredded carrots and diced pears.”

“I think it was strawberries and pretzels.” Garrett huffed a sigh. “They may say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but in your case, Danica, I’d go a different route. What about getting a slinky dress and a pair of heels? Or maybe writing him a nice poem?”

All good suggestions. “Does he like poetry?” It felt like I needed to pull out all the stops.

“He likes Pepsi.”

I’d write a poem about Pepsi. “Thanks!” For the first time in ages, I could see a glimmer of light. “Can you tell me the best way to reach him?”

Garrett gave me a tip. I resolved to act on it—as soon as possible.