“We haven’t talked in a while, and I ... I think it’s good. You’re doing your thing, and I’m doing mine. Well, mine is the same thing I always did. Which, don’t get me wrong, I want to do. I like it here. I’m happy here.”
“What’s really happening?” I ran my hand through my messy hair, mentally berating myself. It’s not like we’d decided to stay together.
“I just think you should really move on. You know, move on, move on. Sorry, that was a lot of move-ons ... this is harder than I thought. Look, you got out. You’re getting a fancy education. It’s not like you’re coming back here.”
“Moira, I plan to come back. I want to come back. This is good for me, though, to get a degree, make my mom proud. But this isn’t forever.”
Despite what Rudy said.
“I know, and I want you to do it. It’s just, you’re experiencing life in a way I may never, and I don’t know how we could ever make it work after that. Do you understand?”
“No, I don’t. We have history, planned a future together. What the fuck ... heck ... is this?”
But did we have a future? Emotions tugged in my belly, and I didn’t like it. I liked feeling self-assured. That’s what being back home felt like—confident. New York felt like a punch to the gut. So did this phone call.
“Look, Price. I know you’re as loyal as they come. If we’d decided to be faithful while you were away, you would’ve been. I didn’t ask that of you, nor would I. We’re young, and we both deserve to experience life wherever we may be. But it’s time for you to cut the cord and really live there. In New York. Not calling to catch up or any of that. Got it?”
“This is crazy. What would you have done if I didn’t call?”
“You woulda called. That’s you. And I still love you, Price.”
“Um, it sure doesn’t look that way from my vantage point,” I said, realizing what a hypocrite I was. Who the fuck was I to feel that way? I’d been walking around dazed over Emerson.
“I do. I care for you more than anything, but we—all of us here—we know you’re not coming back. Your mom too. And we had an arrangement. I told you to go off and experience the city, and I’m sure you have.”
“What is this? An intervention?” I balled my fists and blew out a breath rather than punching a wall. “And my mom? Jesus, she’s in on this too? How about this ... we’ll see,” I said, echoing the same words Rudy had said to me ten minutes earlier.
For once, I wasn’t absolutely sure if I’d go back home. I wasn’t sure who I was or wanted to be when this was all over. I didn’t know what I wanted to do.
Other than see Emerson again.
Yes, it made me a dick, but I wasn’t the only bad guy here. Moira had fucking ended a lifelong friendship over the phone, making me wonder.
Who the hell was she fucking?
I knew Emerson wouldn’t be happy, but it wasn’t in me to give any fucks. Which is why I smirked at eleven on Sunday when I got a text rant from her.
There’s some dude at my door saying he’s your driver and he’s here to take me to your place? I’m capable of making my own way there. And who is this guy anyway?
He’s safe. Go with him.
I didn’t text any more information or details. She’d go with Johnny. I knew it.
After a shower, I tossed on clean athletic shorts, and then changed into khaki shorts. Sifting through my clean laundry bag, I found a faded blue T-shirt and pulled it over my head, leaving my hair rumpled.
The buzzer rang as soon as I finished pulling the blanket over the bed, making it look halfway decent, and I grabbed the phone.
“Hey, Rudy.”
“You have a visitor, Mr. Price.”
Certain Emerson was laughing, I cringed at his name for me. “Yep, one sec. I’m going to come down and get her, ’kay?”
“Certainly. I will entertain Miss Bender for a few minutes.”
That’s exactly what I was worried about. I tossed the phone aside and hurried downstairs to get Emerson.
“Hey there, Mr. Price,” I heard as soon as I stepped off the elevator.
