28. Waycross…Now #3
Allison smiled, large dimples showing as she ran a hand through her grey streaked bob. “Thanks. I appreciate that.” She moved closer to Nadine, closing the space between them. “Listen, I…I saw your Facebook request. I’m sorry I didn’t accept it. I will, though, if you want me to.”
Nadine shrugged. “It’s ok. No big deal.”
“No, let me explain.” Allison sighed. “Seeing your name pop up just flooded me with so many memories. It took me right back to when we were ten and…” Allison blinked rapidly, looking up at the fluorescent lights.
“Our mamas had no business doing and saying what they did. Calling us names. We were kids.”
“I know,” Nadine said. “They overreacted. Like you said, we were kids and…”
“I loved you,’ Allison interrupted, her voice trembling. “You were my first love, Deanie. Shit, you might have been the only person I’ve ever loved.”
Nadine felt like her world had flipped upside down. “Ally, I loved you too. Times were different. Again, we were kids.”
“And kids don’t know about love?”
“Of course they do,” Nadine blinked. “Ally, yes, but still…”
“No,” Allison grabbed Nadine’s free hand.
“I gotta say this. I have been waiting thirty years to say this. And honestly, the divorce has given me the courage to be honest with myself. We might have been kids, finding our way, not fully understanding everything, but I felt love every time I kissed you. Every time I was with you, I felt happiness. It was a love hadn’t felt before.
Not with my parents. Not with my siblings.
No one. Then our parents just tore us apart, called us names. We couldn’t do anything but take it.”
Nadine swallowed thickly as she digested Ally’s words. “Like I said, it was a different time. Not giving them excuses but, they just reacted the way they were taught. Grace Davis and Mae Alston were too religious for their own good.”
Alison rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but still, we were the ones who got hurt by it. Then, we got to middle school, then high school and just drifted apart. We pretended like it never happened, but I could never stop thinking about you, Deanie.”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you too. You have no idea.” Nadine squeezed Allison’s hand a little tighter. Yes, to reassure her, but to also make sure that this moment was real.
“Even when I was lying and calling you weird?” asked Alison
Nadine smiled. “Even when you weren’t checking for me, I always knew deep down that maybe you didn’t mean it.”
“It was just my hurt talking. Hurt because I couldn’t have you. And I couldn’t be myself. I’m sorry for that. Please forgive me, if you can.”
“Of course I forgive you.” Nadine felt hot tears roll down her face. “Can you forgive me?”
Tears rolled down Allison’s face. “Already done.”
They briefly wiped their tears away before intertwining their hands again. Nadine didn’t expect that a pit stop at a gas station would have her in tears. It was like they were kids again. Nadine didn’t necessarily believe in soul mates. But if she did, Allison would come damn close.
“You know,” Allison smiled, a twinkle in her eye. “Even in a busy place like this, I could spot you in a sea of hundreds. Guess I had years of practice. In school, I’d see you in the halls in your cheerleading uniform and it took all my might to pretend like I didn’t notice you.”
Nadine chuckled, brow raised. “You remember me in my cheerleading uniform?”
“Who didn’t? I mean, clearly Shamika Parker and her ass got a lot of attention on the squad, but you definitely were a close second.”
“It wasn’t even close.” Nadine rolled her eyes, chuckling. “Shamika definitely was the star.”
“You’re downplaying yourself as usual, Deanie. You’ve always been a star. At least in my eyes.”
Nadine’s eyes took in Allison’s face as she said the words. It made something warm flow inside Nadine and a pulsing ache nearly cave in her heart. Gosh, she’d missed Allison.
Allison shook her head. Her teeth nibbled at the corner of her lip. “Tsk. It’s a shame, though.”
Nadine’s eyes went straight to the movement of Allison’s teeth against lips. I wonder if she still tastes the same…kisses the same. Nadine blinked, trying to refocus. “What is?” she asked.
“Well, I’m single and back out here. But now the one person I’d want to ask out is married. Such is life, I guess.” Allison chuckled dryly.
“Well,” Nadine smirked. “I’m flattered, but I am kind of seeing someone.”
Allison frowned. “I thought you were married?”
“I am. It’s…complicated,” Nadine confessed. “I can explain, but I feel like the candy aisle in Buc-ees isn’t the right venue for that.”
Allison chuckled. “It probably isn’t. I’ve already done enough confessing in these aisles to last a lifetime. Next time, confessions should be over cocktails and appetizers other than fudge and corn dogs”
“True,” agreed Nadine, balancing her snacks. “Let me check out so we can walk back to my car and exchange numbers. I don’t think we should wait another thirty years to talk to each other.”
Allison smiled. “I’d like that. I’d love to catch up when we get back to the city.”
“Me too.” Nadine smiled. As they moved down the aisle, her eyes locked in on a familiar-colored pack of gum. She grabbed a pack of Bubblicious, adding it to her already full bounty of snacks.
For old time’s sake.