Megan
I rollover and look at the clock—two o’clock on the dot.
My chest is heavy, and my stomach is sour. I managed not to cry until the house got quiet, and I was sure no one was coming by my room. Kennedy texted me good night and thanked me for helping her today. Chase, on the other hand, didn’t acknowledge my existence. I did hear him talking to Kennedy for a long time.
If nothing else, he’s a great father.
I flip on the bedside table light and sit in bed. I’m afraid to go downstairs to get a snack. The last thing I want is to run into Chase. I have no idea why he grew so cold to me tonight, and I have even less of an idea about what to say to him.
How did he go from practically asking me to move in, to telling me I was just a piece of ass?
“Because maybe I see things for the way they really are. Maybe reality just hit, and I’m thinking better without you sitting on my lap.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I say, replaying his words for the hundredth time.
I grab my phone and find Calista’s name.
Me: Are you awake?
Calista: Yup. What are you doing awake?
Me: Well, me and Mr. Marshall had a falling out tonight.
Calista: Wanna call me?
Me: No. I’m afraid he’ll hear me talking.
Calista: Got ya.
I get off the bed and wander over to the window. I remember the first time I was here. The excitement of it, the wariness. How nervous I was, yet not—because Chase was … Chase.
Calista: What happened?
Me: Kennedy got in trouble at school. Chase came home from a work trip, found out, and got all pissy with me for not telling him until he got home. Then he started saying shit like I didn’t sign up for this and there’s nowhere for me to work here—like I would want to stay here and mooch off him.
Calista: Okay, I didn’t know you guys were serious.
Me: We weren’t. I mean, we talked about things. Sort of. You know …
Calista: So he was into it, and you were backpedaling out of a healthy relationship?
Me: Sometimes I hate you.
Calista:
I sit on the edge of the bed and sigh.
Calista: So what’s the status? Are you going home?
Me: I don’t know. We left things up in the air.
Calista: REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.
Me: Don’t shout. It’s late.
Calista: Very funny. But I mean it. Remember who you are.
Me: What’s that supposed to mean?
