Neither the story nor the characters belong to me.

Chapter Twenty-Six

TEMARI

Almost every table was taken at the chatterbox as we finished up a late lunch. My hamburger tasted like sawdust, but I knew it wasn't the cooking—it was my nerves, which weren't getting any better, thanks to Naruto checking his phone every five minutes.

"They already told us they'll make the call at the end of the business day." Sakura reached over the small table and snatched his phone. "You're going to drive me crazy if you keep looking."

"And they're calling Kakashi," Sasuke added, though I noticed his phone was on the table face up in case a message came in.

They'd spent one day on the fire that would determine their rating, and then they'd been sent home yesterday to wait for the verdict.

"You're sure they were meeting today?" Naruto asked Sakura, his fries all but untouched.

"Yes!" She responded at the same time Sasuke did.

"Excuse me if I'm a little nervous," Naruto muttered.

"What time are we supposed to be there?" Saku asked Sasuke.

"Four," he answered, glancing at his phone.

"Be where?" I asked, dipping my fry in ranch before taking a bite.

"Shika's house," Naruto answered, lifting his brows at me like I was supposed to know this.

I dropped the rest of my fry.

"I'm sorry?"

"Um. The…celebration." Sakura had the grace to blush as she glanced between all three of us. "We're all meeting at Shika's house to wait for the phone call, remember?"

"No." I shook my head. "I think I would remember agreeing to something like that."

There was no chance I could see Shika. Not yet, not while I still felt this raw, this vulnerable, and especially not on a day like today. Every emotion was heightened. This is what they'd worked years for. There was every chance I'd lose my mind and throw myself at him.

"Well, then agree now." Naruto shrugged.

"Since when are you on Shika's side?" I shot him a glare.

He shot one right back.

"Since when is everything about Shika? That's my crew too, Tema, and if we get the green light to put Dad's patch on, then I would think you'd want to be there. Not for him, but for me."

Well shit, now I felt about two inches tall.

Grams came out through the swinging door and waved at me, her smile bright as always. I waved back and looked away quickly. I'd half expected her to throw me out on my ass when I'd come in, but she treated me like nothing had happened. Like I hadn't packed all my clothes in record time and left her grandson—and her wedding rings—behind.

"You have to be there," Naruto urged, and the blatant plea in his eyes was more than I could stand.

"Who says he'll even let me in?"

They all looked at me like that was the lamest thing I'd ever said... ever.

"He'll let you in," Sakura said, just in case I'd misinterpreted their expressions.

Both Naruto and Sasuke nodded.

"I'm just…" I sighed. "I'm not ready to deal with that whole situation, okay?"

I wasn't ready to hear him apologize and politely walk away. I wasn't ready for the closure I so obviously needed. I liked my little slice of denial. I was happy there.

Fine, I was miserable, but still. Talking to Shika meant it was really, truly over.

"Then don't talk to him." Naruto shrugged again.

"You honestly think it's that easy." I tilted my head at my brother.

"I think you're an adult capable of making decisions without me weighing in." He crammed a fry in his mouth.

"Well, that's a first."

Sasuke and Sakura shared a look. Of course everything was easy for them. They'd carved their names on the freaking wall two tables away, for all of Konoha to see. They were freaking destined for each other.

"Please, Tema?" Naruto asked.

I sighed, then flagged down our waitress.

"Can I please get a margarita?" I asked.

"Sure!" she answered, perky and happy and not at all heartbroken like I was. "Frozen or on the rocks?"

"What are you doing?" Sakura whispered, like everyone at the table couldn't hear her.

"I don't care as long as it comes with tequila," I told the waitress. "A lot of tequila."

"Coming right up!" She bounced away.

The three of them were staring at me.

"What?" I challenged.

"You never drink at two in the afternoon," Sakura said slowly.

I waved her off.

"Well, it's not like I'm a mom anymore, right? I have zero responsibilities today, and if I'm going to be in the same room—scratch that—the same house as Shika, then there's no chance in hell that I'm going to be sober."

I wasn't sure there was enough alcohol in the world to get me through this evening.

"So that means you'll come?" Naruto asked, a note of hope in his tone.

"That means I'll come," I agreed.

I drank three of the salty-sweet treats before we left. With any luck, this would be Naruto's big night, and with a little more luck, I wouldn't remember any of it.