She nods, but she’s staring straight ahead and not speaking.
“Gen, what the hell was that?”
“Something that has to stop.”She takes a deep breath.“I won’t make plans with Nessa next time unless I know he’s not coming.”
ChapterSeven
Gen and I lie low over the next week.I run into Jaeger once at the casino while I’m working, and he reminds me about the party this weekend.I told him I thought we’d be there, but my first priority is to talk to Eric.I can’t stand not knowing what’s going on.Eric has avoided me for a month, and I’ve had enough.I’m driving to my old college tonight, where he still lives, to talk to him.
It’s Friday and I manage to get off early.Gen is letting me borrow her car overnight and I’m crashing at my friend Reese’s place near Dawson University.
The drive down goes faster than I expected.That’s what happens when you spend the entire time trying to figure out how to ask your boyfriend why he’s avoiding you without sounding completely pathetic.I’ve decided it’s impossible.
It’s dark out, but all the lights are on at Reese’s when I pull up.
Reese has a serious boyfriend, so I don’t see her as often as I used to when we were freshmen, but we’ve remained close.Conveniently, she found a job on campus after graduation and still lives in town, while most of my friends have moved on to greener pastures.
I knock on the door to Reese’s apartment, and she answers in black skinny jeans, heels, and a designer sequined top.
“Bow-chica-bow-wow,” I singsong.“Going out?”
She drags me inside.“Yes, and you are too.”
“Actually—” I stop her, standing in the middle of her simple living room, which consists of a plain, muted brown couch and armchair, and a television.It always amazes me that someone as fashionable as Reese lives in a home without flair, but her roommate is down to earth and Reese’s aesthetic obsessions tend toward clothing and accessories.“—I was planning on finding Eric, then crashing early.”
Reese’s roommate Elena waves to me from the kitchen, her dark, wavy hair pulled into a messy bun on the top of her head.She’s in flannel pajama bottoms and a ribbed tank top, stirring something that smells like beef stew in a large pot.My mouth waters.I wouldn’t mind throwing on flannel PJs, forgetting this whole confronting Eric business, and joining her.
Reese studies my face.“What’s going on?I figured when you asked to stay here instead of with Eric, something was up.”
“To be honest, I don’t know what’s going on.”Which means there’s a strong possibility I’ll be making a butter pecan run in the near future.After two years together, I’m pretty sure things are over between Eric and me.What other explanation could he have for four weeks of avoidance?
“Okay.”Her eyes narrow.“So what’s your plan?”
“Find him and figure it out?”Then eat my weight in butter pecan?
I’m pretty sure I know what Eric’s going to say, but I still need to hear it.When your boyfriend doesn’t call for a month, doesn’t return your calls, and doesn’t appear to care whether you breathe—he’s no longer into you.There’s no sense in pretending everything’s okay, because it’s not.
Reese drums her multicolored nails against her lips—are those rhinestones on the tips?“What do you think about going to a bar?”
My upper lip curls.“Umm?—”
“I only suggest it because I’ve seen Eric out a few times.Some of my coworkers have run into him at the bars too.”
Okay, that’s weird.I have no flippin’ clue where Reese works on campus.She’s vague about it.“Your coworkers know him?”
She waves her hand absently.“Never mind that.The point is, you might have better luck running him to ground at a bar.”
And doesn’t that just sound depressing?I have to hunt my boyfriend down to get him to dump me.“I guess that’s as good a plan as any.”
A sad smile crosses her face.“Let’s try Big Billy’s.It’s the new hotspot on Friday nights.”She scans my outfit.“Don’t take this the wrong way, but… did you bring anything else to wear?”
I glance at the baggy jeans and T-shirt I threw on for the drive.“Are you trying to tell me I look like crap?”
“If things are as bad as I think they are between you and Eric, you should look hot.Make him see what he’s missing.”
Hot.Jaeger makes me feel hot, and desirable, but my boyfriend doesn’t.Something’s wrong with that picture.“Okay.”My voice comes out shaky.When did I become this broken, pitiful thing?
“So, what did you pack?”
