All I Have Left Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    Josh Kurtis was Kelly’s longtime boyfriend. They’d been dating since high school and I can’t ever remember a time when he wasn’t around. They left after high school went to college together in Arizona and graduated last year. From what Frankie told me earlier, he had just gotten a good job with an engineering company and bought a house together.
    “Good to see you man,” he smiled and picked me up again.
    “Put him down.” Kelly slapped Josh as she approached us. “It’s my turn to hug him.”
    Kelly and I hugged, briefly, and then turned toward the stage as the music started. It was a quick reunion, small talk made with no questions asked.
    That’s when Evie stepped to the microphone, but kept her head bowed. I heard a few whistles, many coming from a man standing in the corner next to the stage. Both Josh and I turned to see who it was. I recognized him from high school but couldn’t think of his name.
    Sean…Scott…oh, who cares.
    “Fucking jackass,” Josh mumbled and turned away from him. “That guy is a douchebag.”
    Kelly looked over Josh’s shoulder to see who he was talking about and shook her head in disgust. “That’s putting it lightly.”
    I was furious he was looking at her that way. Not that I wasn’t but she was mine. She was always mine, even though she didn’t know it yet, somehow, someway I was going to prove this to her.
    That said douchebag continued to make catcalls at Evie, which didn’t help my jealousy problem. Especially when his buddies joined in.
    Just as I was contemplating walking over to them, and maybe kicking the shit out of them for good measure, Evie started to sing.
    And fuck if I wasn’t totally captivated by her every move. The way her eyes would close when she would sing. The way her body swayed to the music. The way her hair blew softly in the night air, all of it held me there.
    With her eyes rimmed with tears I could sense her pain as she sang about needing someone so much you weren’t sure you could go on without them.
    Was the sadness because of me? You fucking know it’s because of you dipshit. How could it not be?
    How much have I hurt her? What if she didn’t want anything to do with me, maybe she’s moved on.
    My god, listen to me. My mind was all over the place.
    Her sadness felt like something more though, something else entirely. From where we stood, I could see tears began to stream down her cheek, only for her to quickly wipe them away.
    When she finished “I Shall Believe” she smiled once and walked off stage.
    Instantly I was pulled with Frankie back stage.
    “Wait here,” she ordered and ran off to tackle Evie before she got down the steps. I stayed back, nervous I guess. It’s been so long I didn’t even know what to say to her or if I could even speak.
    Would words even come out if I tried?
    Instead I stood there silently watching.
    “Jesus, Frankie, ease up!” Evie gasped as Frankie squeezed her tightly. She tried to push her off but Frankie just clung to her even tighter.
    “I’m soooo proud of you Evieeeeee. You were amazing out there! I can’t believe how good you sounded! Did you see him….Gr—” Ethan cut her off by elbowing her in the side.
    At least someone was trying to keep the little shit in check.
    “See who?” Evie asked, annoyed and tugging on her dress. “This is ridiculous. I can’t believe you made me wear this. My ass is freezing out there.”
    She didn’t know it was me standing out there?
    I guess the lights on stage are fairly bright. It’s also been a long time since she has seen me. I did look fairly different these days. My hair was shorter, I’m tanner, and probably more muscular than the last time she saw me, despite the hell my body had been through.
    “Gra—owww!” Ethan cut her off again.
    “Josh and Kelly, they’re back.” Ethan said, abruptly glaring at Frankie as he spoke.
    “Ethan, can I speak with you in private?” Frankie grumbled as she pulled him staggering back.