A Bully’s Penance Novel – “He abandoned everyone, including me.” I will not forgive a deserter. But I couldn’t refuse the invitation to my best friend’s wedding. “Grace, he was at the wedding.” My face turned pale. “He was the best man.” The betrayal burned in my heart, and countless questions emerged. How did this happen? How long did this last? Why didn’t you tell me? After leaving my friend’s house, I wandered around aimlessly. I wanted to clear my mind, but God didn’t seem to give me this opportunity. Because I met that guy on the street corner. Harrison O’Connor. “Grace.” His tone was full of surprised wonder.
“Okay, don’t hate me.” I glanced at my friend, huffing as I dragged my suitcase through the door. “Can I take a rain check on the hate until I set my bag down?” “Ooh, yes, sorry, let me help!” I watched in amusement as Amelia grabbed the handle of my bright red bag before dragging it across the hallway of the house she shared with Liam. “Wow,” I laughed. “You must’ve really if you’re willing to help with my bags. I remember when you didn’t unpack for a month after coming back from Spring Break!” Amelia gave a strained titter. “Well, you know…since Liam’s making an honest woman out of me, I figured I would, um, you know, start helping out and stuff…” Her sentence puttered out. I placed my hands on my hips.
“Okay, Amelia, what gives? What did you do? Do I have to wear a big princess bridesmaid dress with puffy sleeves?” I joked. “Because you know I would do and wear anything for you,” I smiled gently. I was one of the fortunate ones who retained a close friendship with my high school best friend. Despite Amelia attending the local community college and staying in Ashburton, she was a constant presence in my life. While I avoided spending too much time in Ashburton, Amelia made good use of having an out-of-state bestie, visiting me as often as possible. Together, we visited all the theme parks and most of the museums.
We hiked and camped in the surrounding mountains and drove through most of California in an open-top car, making sure to hit most wineries on the way down. And now I was back in Ashburton for the longest time I’d ever spent here since I moved away. A month. A whole freakin’ month in Ashburton, Kentucky. Yes, I got to spend time with my family and Amelia. But I didn’t really want to spend it for a consecutive month. I couldn’t even hunker down and stay at my parent’s place, avoiding the usual Ashburton haunts. No, I was here for Amelia and Liam’s wedding. I was Maid of Honor, and Amelia somehow blossomed into a social butterfly because she had all sorts of “fun” activities planned for the bridal party. I was thrilled to be part of the wedding, and I adored Liam. He was one of the good ones. He had been on the wrestling team at school, but compared to the superstars that were the Ashburton Tigers football team, the wrestling team barely registered on anybody’s radar.
Liam was a tall yet stocky boy who had grown into quite a handsome man. But beyond his looks, Liam was kind and respectful, with a dry, witty sense of humor that mirrored my own. He and Amelia were high school sweethearts, but he always included me in a few of their dates so I wouldn’t feel left out. Amelia had told me that after a rough day at school dealing with my tormentors, it was Liam who always suggested taking us out for ice cream. For that, I adored him. So I was happy to be here. Kind of. Okay, not really. But I would do anything for Amelia and Liam, so spending a month ensuring they had the perfect day possible was no hardship. I could suck it up and then detox in New York. Ooh, maybe Miami Beach.
Amelia’s red-headed figure popped into view while I daydreamed about sipping pina coladas in a Harrison-free zone. “Earth to Grace,” she called, waving a manicured hand in my face. “Sorry, just thinking of the month ahead and all the exciting activities you have planned.” “First, you need to work on your poker face. You make a terrible liar. Second, I heard you mutter the words to The Pina Colada Song, so if that’s a hint at me to get the beverage out, I’m way ahead of you, girl!” She bounced away to the kitchen, reaching up to grab a couple of beverage glasses from the cupboard above. I moved to the fridge to grab a bottle of Sav, uncorking it swiftly. “So!” I started, “Tell me this news that will put a damper on my day. Good thing getting me liquored up,” I joked.
Amelia settled down on the bar stool opposite and flicked me an uneasy smile beneath her long lashes. “Wellll…” she dragged out, twirling a French-tipped finger around the rim of her glass. “Our class is having a reunion in three weeks,” she started. I let out a loud, short bark of laughter. “Oh, my God,” I snorted. “That’s in three weeks?” “So you did get the email?” Amelia enquired, her brow arched curiously. “Got it and deleted it as soon as I read the subject line. I have no idea how they got my new email address,” I frowned. “Well!” Amelia interjected brightly, “That explains why I didn’t see your name on the RSVP list.” I blinked, staring blankly at my friend. “Um, you seriously don’t think I would actually go to that?” I asked incredulously. Amelia’s shoulders drooped.
“I know, Gracie. I was just hoping that maybe we could go? You know, since you’re here and all.” “No,” I firmly stated, taking a big gulp of my beverage. “Now, can we talk about your bridal shower? Remember how much you adore Paris? I was thinking–” “Grace!” Amelia slapped her hands on the kitchen island. I startled. “What?” Her brow pinched as her red-painted mouth turned down. “I’m on the reunion committee.” I was as still as a statue, stunned. Reunion committee? What? “But…you hated Ashburton High as much as I did,” I slowly reminded her, my brow furrowed in bewilderment. Amelia flinched, although she kept her eyes averted from mine. “I know, Gracie.” I knew Amelia like the back of my hand. I recognized when she was on her period, when she was in a fight with Liam, when she was sad, happy, or depressed.
And I knew when she was being deliberately evasive. “You called it the Devil’s Playground and even suggested that we defecate on the football field after we graduate.” I was still sure that I had misheard her—that I had broken off into a brief daydream but was now wide awake. “Ew, gosh, don’t remind me!” Amelia groaned into her hands. “I just don’t understand.” I shook my head slowly. “And who has a high school reunion after seven years? At least give some of us a chance to get over our PTSD.” “I know it’s a lot to ask–” “No.” “–and I know you had a terrible time in high school. No one is disputing that -” “No.” “–but I really, really want to go to this.” I sighed and placed my glass down. “Amelia, you know I love you and would do anything for you, but–” “He’s changed, Grace.”
Her voice was so quiet, I almost didn’t hear her. I wasn’t going to play dumb. I knew who she meant. I pressed my lips together to keep the scowl at bay. “He’s dropped all his old friends, dumped Jessica a billion years ago-” “Like I give about that–” “And,” she stressed, “he’s become close friends with Liam.” My stomach dropped. “Grace, he’s in the wedding party.” The color drained from my face. “He’s the Best Man.” I stood there in frozen silence as I attempted to process the bombs my supposed best friend just dropped on me. Best Man? Harrison? That noun juxtaposed with his name was laughable. Surely this was a joke? One look at Amelia’s guilt-ridden face was enough to tell me that there would be no amusing punch line to any of this.
Betrayal burned in my gut as a million questions arose. How did this happen? How long has this been going on for? And why didn’t you tell me? It wasn’t lost on me that these questions were parallel to accusations a wronged spouse would fling at an unfaithful partner. Because that’s exactly how I felt. Blindsided and betrayed. My eyes shifted to my bag in the corner before I muffled a crazed laugh. She hadn’t even let me unpack yet. With a hand that was not quite steady, I picked up my glass and drained the contents. “Well,” I drawled, “that was a lot of information to digest in ten minutes.” I plucked up the beverage bottle and poured more into my glass, filling it almost to the brim. “Why didn’t you tell me this before, Amelia?” I shook my head in disappointment. I tried to keep my tone calm, even though I wanted to rail at Amelia for deceiving me.
“I mean, I get that Harrison might have changed from a head into a douchebag but–” “He’s neither of those things, Grace. Not anymore.” She searched my strained face. “Look, I’m not asking you to forgive him. Believe me, it took me a while to warm up to him. But he’s a decent guy now. He apologized to me and is eager to catch up with you.” “Ha!” I jeered, my beverage splashing over the rim. “Catch up? Catch up!? Sure, what does he want to talk about first?” I slammed down my beverage glass, uncaring of the mess I made. “The time he purposely tore up my English paper the day it was due? The time he tripped me for the hundredth time down the hallway, or maybe the time he called me an ugly nerd who would never get laid?”
I paced the kitchen, gesturing angrily. “Yes, we have sooo much to catch up on.” “Gracie, please!” Amelia pleaded. “I’m not asking you to forgive him, just have a conversation with him and clear the air. It’s my wedding, and I–” she broke off with a sob. “I just–I just–” “Oh, can the crocodile tears. They only work on Liam.” I folded my arms, eyeing Amelia with a narrowed-eyed glare. Like I said, I knew Amelia like the back of my hand. I wasn’t thrilled that she was using her fake crying gag to garner sympathy in a situation I found far from amusing. As predicted, her face cleared before she sighed and came around the kitchen island. She wrapped her arms around my rigid shoulders. “I’m such a prick. I’m so sorry for pushing this.”
I rolled my eyes but my stance gradually relaxed until I reluctantly returned her hug. I could never stay mad at Amelia, even though I was seriously contemplating ghosting her and this wedding. “I’ll…try and keep an open mind.” The words stuck to my throat, but what choice did I have? The plan I had carefully curated to avoid Harrison and any of his known haunts while in Ashburton was a bust. And I was hardly going to throw a tantrum and give Amelia and Liam an ultimatum to choose between the two of us. “That’s all. I’ll be pleasant and cordial to him, but that’s it. And I’m only doing this for you, babe.” Amelia rested her head on my shoulder. She was quiet for a few minutes before taking a deep breath. “And you’ll come to the reunion?” I rolled my eyes before shoving her away.
Beep, beep, beep. I jerked awake and fumbled to hit the stop button on my alarm. With eyes still bleary from sleep, I checked the time and groaned. I only had an hour to get ready before meeting my parents and brother at Bobbi’s Cafe. Yawning widely, I stretched my long legs before sighing and sinking back onto the comfortable mattress. I was exhausted. My bones felt weak and there was a little man playing tiny drums on my temples. Not surprising, given the fact that Amelia and I had stayed up until midnight. After all, we had a lot to catch up on. Me more than her, apparently. Yesterday had emotionally drained me. I was still wrapping my head around the fact that the person I despised the most had somehow duped my two best friends into thinking he was now one of the good guys.
I wanted to question Amelia more—mainly by asking: How did this even happen, and how dare you betray me—but I didn’t want to ruin our first night together after going so long without seeing each other. So, I sucked it up and drank my emotions like a true adult. We had gone through two and a half bottles of beverage last night. It would’ve been three if Liam hadn’t cut us off, gently reminding Amelia of their appointment at their wedding venue at 9 am. We had jeered at him good-naturedly, calling him a spoilsport, but it was probably just as well that he was the sensible one in our group. I was staying at Amelia and Liam’s since it was easier to get together to plan the final details of the wedding, bridal shower, bachelorette—yes, she was having both—rehearsal dinner and everything that came in between.
I had never been a bridesmaid before, let alone the Head prick, so I was planning on making myself as available and accommodating as possible to the frazzled bride-to-be. As I snuggled further into the blankets, I realized this was the first time in a long time that I’d had an actual break. I had jumped straight into my coursework at Berkeley. Just because I had excellent grades in high school didn’t mean I had to remain complacent. College work was at a whole other level. It was challenging, frustrating, and tiring. And I loved it. I thrived on the adrenaline and challenge of studying something that I was so passionate about.
If something didn’t click with me or I didn’t understand a particular concept, I worked until I could comprehend it and was versed enough to teach it. I had also worked part-time at a coffee shop since I only had a partial scholarship, and my parents also helped subsidize some of my schooling costs. Once they discovered how intelligent their young daughter was, they wasted no time saving up for what they knew would be a very pricey education. In my junior year, I scored a coveted research position for my chemistry professor. With Professor Hannover’s stellar reputation and recommendation, I moved seamlessly into a junior research position at an up-and-coming biotechnology company that was already making waves in the pharmaceutical world. Going from high school to college to full-time work had caused me to burn out a little, so when I received the ear-piercing phone call from Amelia that they had ” finally set a date,” I immediately put my vacation leave in.
My bosses were so thrilled with my work and relieved that I was finally using my vacation leave that they had no hesitation in approving my six weeks off. I rechecked my phone and leaped out of bed. I had already wasted nearly half an hour daydreaming. Luckily, like most small towns, Bobbi’s Cafe was only a short walk away. After a quick shower, I ran my fingers through my long dark hair. It was definitely time for a trim. I usually kept it shoulder length since I worked primarily in the lab and didn’t need my hair falling into my face constantly during the day. , I stood before the mirror and applied an SPF-tinted moisturizer. Since it would be hot out, I didn’t want to bother with make-up that would be sweated off in an hour. Standing back, I surveyed myself with a critical eye. I had grown out my bangs years ago, no longer needing the shield they used to provide me.
My adolescent awkward stage was a thing of the past. With my mom’s high cheekbones and my dad’s straight nose and bright blue eyes, my features were a feminine blend of the two. No one could pinpoint who exactly I took after. My eyes roamed down the rest of my body as my hands smoothed over my almost flat stomach—I had a little pooch that I tended to frown over whenever I wore a tight-fitted dress. My hips were slightly curvy, and I was proud of my strong, toned arms and legs—courtesy of Pilates. My boobs were decent-sized; I never received any complaints in that department. I rechecked the time and gave a small yelp. Chastising myself for being vain, I quickly pulled on a pair of denim shorts that showed off my toned legs and a plain white T-shirt. After a quick spritz of my favorite body mist and a swipe of lip gloss, I felt like a new woman—even the man playing drums in my head had changed his instrument to a smaller percussion.
Slipping my feet into a pair of strappy black sandals that were dressy but casual, I slid my phone into the back pocket of my shorts. I didn’t need a bag just for a quick bite with my family. After grabbing the spare key from the hallway table I quickly locked up and walked the short distance to Bobbi’s. As predicted, it was a stifling hot day. Since Amelia was a second-grade teacher, they had chosen to have their wedding in June to line up with the summer break. Right bam smack in the middle of a heat wave. I was already starting to sweat a bit, but luckily, the walk to the town center was lined with Dogwood trees, which I purposely walked near for their cool shade. Bobbi’s was more of a diner than a cafe, but Bobbi Zhou, the longtime owner, thought “cafe” sounded classier than “diner.” I didn’t have an opinion either way. I just knew I craved Bobbi’s Big Breakfast special, served all day—sausages, bacon, eggs, tomato, mushrooms, hash browns, and toast.
With an iced tea to go with it, of course. My mouth salivated just thinking about it, and my fading hangover rejoiced at the chance for a greasy soak. As I neared the red-bricked cafe, I looked around the familiar surroundings. As much as I disliked the place, I had to admit that it was one of the prettiest towns I had ever encountered—and I’d come across a lot during my road trips. Old-fashioned lamps lined the streets, and fairy lights zig-zagged across the roads. The town committee had put them up one Christmas when I was twelve, and the out-of-towners commented on it so much that they decided to keep them up. They lit Main Street at night and were mighty pretty. Flower pots and plants also lined the sidewalks; I had never seen them look dull or lifeless. The various shops and eateries always looked freshly painted, their signs bright, big, and welcoming. I felt a pang of town pride that I grew up in such a picturesque place. It was a pity that some townsfolk brought down the star rating.
I opened the door to Bobbi’s, smiling as the little bell rang. I sighed in appreciation at the blast of cool air and quickly scanned the space for a spare booth. My parents had already texted that they were running a few minutes late. After spotting an empty booth at the far corner, I made my way down the aisle, my thoughts preoccupied with whether I would order scrambled or poached eggs with my meal. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a familiar dark head poke up and stare at me as I passed their table. No, no, no. It can’t be! Please, please, please do not come to me. But as I sat down, with my back purposely to the crowd, I could feel his presence approaching me. My heart sank. Harrison O’Connor.
As I stood in the cold aisle with a wheel of Brie under my arm, I felt a prickle at the back of my neck—an awareness. I glanced to my right and was startled at the sight of Harrison O’Connor. He was standing at the end of the aisle, a look of shock written on his face as he stared at me. He was so still that I wondered if he was suffering from some sort of brain aneurysm. The longer he stood gaping at me, the more uncomfortable I became. And considering that I was already feeling uneasy since entering the bright lights of Ashburton, that was saying a lot. “Grace.” His tone was full of surprised wonder.