The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 58

Jamie

~ Christmas Eve ~

I smile and extend my arm towards the miserable looking redhead approaching me on the train platform. I got her a Toffee Nut Latte from Starbucks, hopefully this will help wipe that scowl off of her face.

"Is it any wonder Jay's so in love with her?" Patrick murmurs to me, and I stifle a laugh. She's pursing her lips, she's scowling, and she looks absolutely fucking furious as she walks towards us. But who could blame her? Her train has just gotten in, a whole hour and 20 minutes late.

"Don't say a fucking word." She says, grabbing the latte out of my hand forcefully and taking a long swig, before spitting it back out on to the platform. An elderly couple shake their heads at her as they walk by us.

"It would have been warm..." I start, but she exhales sharply like ugh! and I decide there's no point finishing that sentence.

"...if your train wasn't so fucking late." Patrick finishes my sentence for me. "Seriously, Larson. Get a fucking drivers licence."

He takes one of her many bags from her and hoists it over his shoulder. She doesn't thank him.

"Lets get the fuck off of this platform, I need a cigarette." She mumbles, so we make our way out of the train station and on to the street. The second we step outside, she's sparking up a cigarette. Hopefully this will raise her spirits.

"Thanks for picking me up." She says, exhaling smoke as we walk towards my car in the station parking lot.

"Not a problem." I reply. "Your mom called about a half hour ago, they were expecting you sooner obviously. I let her know the train was delayed."

She doesn't say anything, she just continues smoking her cigarette as we approach my car.

"Maybe public transport would be more reliable on, say...any other day of the year besides fucking Christmas Eve." Patrick points out as he tosses Erin's bag into the trunk. And finally, she smiles.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She says. "I'm not the most organised person in the world, you know that. I had some last minute Christmas shopping to do before I left New York."

"Oh, really? I never would have guessed." Patrick says sarcastically as Erin hands him the rest of her bags and he loads them into the trunk too.

"I got you a new watch, Jame." She says, and I sigh. "You're gonna love it."

"Thanks. I'll try to act surprised when I open it tomorrow." I reply with a laugh.

"I got you a couple boxes of condoms, P." She says. "I don't know what else makes you happy. And Sarah told me Joel stole some condoms from your room when they were fucking at your apartment, so. Merry fucking Christmas, dude."

Patrick doesn't say anything, he just frowns at her. Seriously, Erin? What a terrible present.

"What?" She says, flicking her cigarette butt away. "I was gonna get you an At Home STD Test Kit, but I didn't think you'd appreciate that."

"I really miss you when you're gone, Erin." Patrick says drily, before opening the passenger door and getting into the car.

"Hey, what the hell dude? I wanna ride shot gun!" Erin calls after him. He ignores her. I shrug my shoulders at her and she sighs before getting into the back seat. I get in the drivers seat and start up the engine.

"So what's been going on since I left?" She asks as I pull out of the parking lot.

"Oh, you know, just the usual." Patrick replies before I get the chance. "Ploughing through condoms, contracting STD's, all the stuff you clearly think I spend all my time doing."