"𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞."
Lou Johnston and Eddy "Boone" Higgins, two former best friends whose paths diverged after high school. Now, years later, they find themselves inexplicably draw...
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I sat on the edge of the hotel bed, carefully unwrapping the bandage around Jase's swollen ankle. It was red and puffy, and stuck out as clear as day.
"How's it feeling today?" I asked, keeping my voice low. It was early, and the quiet of the morning felt almost sacred.
Jase winced as I prodded gently at the injury. "Like hell," he muttered, his voice still thick with sleep.
I couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, that's what you get for trying to take on a hill while staring at your phone."
He had the grace to look sheepish. "Yeah, yeah. I know. Not my finest moment."
As I began to rewrap his ankle with a fresh bandage, we lapsed into a comfortable silence. It was nice, this quiet moment between us. It reminded me of when we were kids, patching each other up after our latest adventure or misadventure.
"Remember when we used to do this all the time?" Jase asked, as if reading my mind. "You were always the one fixing me up after I'd done something stupid."
I smiled, focusing on my task. "Some things never change, I guess."
Jase was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was softer, more reflective. "We've changed though, haven't we? Both of us."
I paused, looking up at him. His eyes were far away, lost in memories. "Yeah," I agreed. "I suppose we have."
"You're different now," he continued. "Stronger, I think. More... I don't know, fierce? Like yesterday, when I fell. I've never seen you like that before."
I felt a flush creep up my neck. "I was just worried about you, that's all."
Jase shook his head. "No, it's more than that. You've grown up, Louise. We both have."
I finished wrapping his ankle and sat back, considering his words. "I guess that's what happens when you leave home, huh? You find out who you really are."
He nodded, a wry smile on his face. "For better or worse."
We fell silent again, each lost in our own thoughts. The sounds of the hotel waking up filtered through the walls - distant footsteps, the hum of the ice machine down the hall.
"So," Jase said suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You and Boone, huh?"
I felt my cheeks heat up. "What about me and Boone?"
