Unbroken

Emerson always drove, he’s probably crashed that truck three times over by now—taking the turns too fast, radio blaring.
    His hand resting possessively on my thigh…
    I glance in the rearview mirror and let out a whimper. My hair is sticking to my forehead in sweaty strands, and any makeup I had on at the start of the day has long since been wiped away. I pull some lip-gloss from my purse and quickly swipe it on, pulling my hair back into a loose braid, just in case.
    Just in case what?
    I stop, blinking at my own reflection. This is ridiculous – I can’t creep around town, expecting to find Emerson hiding behind every corner. No matter how shitty things ended between us, it’s been years now, I’m over it. I’m happy off in my new life, with an amazing future, and even more wonderful boyfriend waiting back home for me.
    The thought of Daniel is like a cold shower on my nervous emotions. I tug my hair free again, wipe off the lipgloss, and quickly walk through the main doors.
    Right away, I’m surrounded by the low hum of conversation and laughter. It’s a weathered old dive bar, with Bon Jovi playing on the jukebox, and people playing pool over in the corner. I go take a seat on a stool at the far end of the bar, and quickly sweep my eyes across the crowd. I see some old familiar faces, regulars I remember from when I was back in town last, but nobody gives me a second look, or any flicker of recognition.
    I let out a slow breath of relief. I didn’t realize until now how tight I was wound, wondering if I’d see Emerson again. Or not even him, but someone who knew him, well enough to come say ‘hi’, and ask after me and my family.
    “What can I get you?” The bartender asks, strolling over to me. I’ve not seen him before—he’s young and blonde, wearing a plaid shirt and a laid-back smile.
    “Jack and coke,” I reply. “And a burger, thanks.”
    “Coming right up.” He grabs the liquor bottle from the row on the shelf behind him, and gives me a long pour. “You just get in to town?”
    I pause. “How did you tell?” I frown.
    He gives me a lazy grin. “I know everyone in town.”
    His eyes flick over me, and I remember that I haven’t changed since breakfast with Daniel this morning, what feels like weeks ago. My preppy silk dress and sandals may be normal for the city, but here in Cedar Cove, the uniform is cutoff jeans and flip flops. “You got me,” I tell him, uncomfortable.
    “I’ll go see about that burger,” he winks at me, and strolls away.
    I shift awkwardly on my stool, registering how out of place I must look. Further down the bar, a couple of guys in baseball caps and workman’s tans are checking me out with long looks. I try to ignore them. I grasp my drink and take a long sip. It’s strong, and the alcohol burns in the back of my throat, but I keep drinking. I need it tonight, with all these old ghosts dancing around the edge of my mind, trying to trip me up.
    I turn my mind to safer things, like trying to remember the last time I was in a bar alone, without friends, or Daniel. The answer is never. Even back in college, I was never really the bar-hopping type. Lacey dragged me off to parties, and the pub crawls in the city, but after Emerson, my heart was too raw to make a real go of it and flirt with the frat boys lining up on a Friday night. I didn’t even want the random makeouts Lacey would always use to rebound after her heart got dented by a guy. My pain was too deep for that. Nothing was ever going to make it better.
    At least, that’s what I thought. Then I wound up meeting Daniel in my Ethics class, spring semester of my sophomore year. He’s three years older than me, but was taking the class to make up a basic requirement for law school. The first few weeks, he just smiled at me. Cute brown hair, brown eyes, preppy Oxford shirts and pants. There was something genuine in his expression, like he had a joke to share with me—just me—so soon, I found myself smiling back. Then he moved to sit beside me, just appearing in the next seat one day, offering me a spare pen and a copy of his notes. We paired up for assignments and started studying together, and by the time the end of the semester came, he finally asked me out on a date.
    A real date. It was funny—there I was, surrounded by casual hook-ups and one-night stands, and Daniel took the time to do it right. While Lacey was hanging off two AM booty texts from random guys, I was getting to know