John Hughes Movie

Chapter 31

Lara Jean

"Here you go. Enjoy." I faked a smile, handing over an oat milk latte to a redhead in a rock band t shirt. I don't know how I was standing, but here I was behind the counter at work in a messy apron covered in melted sugar. It was relatively show today. But, this week had gone on forever. Each day Peter wasn't with me seemed like a million years.

I couldn't believe it was taking him so long. I knew he needed time to process. But I had laid my heart on the pavement open to being bumped, bruised or crushed. He owed it to me to say something. Say something more than a few grunts and a half assed sorry.

My phone buzzed in my apron pocket. He finally texted me. My heart rate doubled while my phone was slow to open.

I need help with the final presentation. I'm not sure if what I'm saying makes any sense. Please. Can I come over to yours tonight?

I felt a sucker punch to the gut. I kept thinking he would want to talk about us. Make the step for us. But it was just about the grade. Our presentation was twenty percent of our grade for the class. This was supposed to be my easy A of the semester. I needed this to go right, but at what cost.

I didn't want to see him when I felt this shitty. The back of my mind wanted him to suffer in the same way I had. But that wasn't fair, I couldn't want him to do all these things without allowing them to happen. Maybe that's why grand romantic gestures are only in the movies. Both parties have to be all in or they just seem desperate. I texted him back.

Fine. I get off at 8.

I put my phone back in my pocket hoping I made the right decision. I looked up at the clock. Only 2 hours until I would have to face him. Maybe I'd develop some ultra-confidence, bad ass taking no shit superpower in that time. God knows I'd need it to face him without breaking down.

"Hey, Lara Jean." A familiar voice came up to the counter.

"Sam. Hey!" I was shocked to see him and his space loving face again. He was almost like a ghost from another life. A pre-Peter life. "How are you doing?"

"Good. Can't complain. You?" He smiled out one side of his face and I knew why I agreed to go out with him in the first place. He was so undeniably handsome.

"Umm...been better." I chuckled.

"Yeah, work can suck ass sometimes." He agreed. I knew in my soul that we would never work out. Seeing his face made me remember how the horrible date I had with him was. It what made me go on a fake date with Peter in the first place. I sighed internally. Our fake date might have been the best night of my life.

I don't think I ever felt so alive as I did when he scraped the ice cream off my lips. I could feel the electricity race through my body. That made me think of his strong fingers and hands. How they would wrap around my waist or how his big hand would cover my entire stomach when he was trying to keep me still. Fuck, I missed him.

"Totally sucks. What can I get you?" I snapped out of my Peter fantasies. I wanted Sam to be gone. All he did is remind me of him and all I wanted was for Peter to be standing in front of me, telling me he loves me and that we will be together forever.

"Flat white would be excellent." He smiled. I quickly ran him up and went to the machine. Once the drink was complete, I handed it over. "Enjoy. It was great seeing you, Sam." I tried my best to smile, but my customer service face was wearing thin.

"You too." He smiled at me and walked into the café. A relieved feeling washed over me. I was so glad that Sam didn't work out. If we had, Peter would be nothing more than then the weird friend I did a project with. Instead, he was the person taking over my every thought. I swirled my fingers in my ponytail, wishing it was him. Peter always liked playing with my hair just like I wanted to play with his curls.