We give each other a final hug before wiping the tears from our eyes, and I grab the two suitcases and bag, heading up thefront steps. Unlocking the lobby door, I leave everything except my phone downstairs, unable to wait one more second to run up to the third floor.
By the time I reach apartment 3B, my hands are trembling. I do a small happy dance as I insert the key into the lock for the first time. The door opens quickly and smoothly. I’m met by complete darkness in the living room.
That’s strange. Andrew doesn’t usually go to bed until one in the morning, and it’s only eleven.
“Andrew?”
The apartment isn’t massive, so it’s easy to move around once I turn my phone’s flashlight on.
No answer. I creep past the kitchen toward the small hallway leading to our room. I jump slightly at the feeling of something under my foot. When I shine my phone’s light on the ground, I see one of Andrew’s socks.
Shaking my head, I continue down the hall and hear music.
“Andrew?” I say more quietly than before, in case he’s asleep. He didn’t know I was coming, and the last thing I want is for him to come out swinging, thinking I’m an intruder.
I’m still a few feet away when I hear clapping and voices coming from his room. I peer downward. The lights are on, so he isn’t asleep. Then a moan slips past the door and hits me right in the chest.
No…he wouldn’t.
My heart thuds faster and harder as I wrap my hand around the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, I turn it and burst in. What I find in front of me has me dropping my phone and covering my mouth with both hands. A sound between a gasp and a cry leaves me.
“Stevie?” Andrew’s eyes widen while he’s balls deep in his best friend.
Tiffany swings her head my way, looking annoyed. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
I’m frozen to the spot. My head is the only thing moving, and I’m shaking it slowly.
“Shit. Fuck,” Andrew mutters, pulling himself out of his friend.
No, this can’t be happening. This is just a dream. It’s a nightmare I’ll wake up from in a minute. I’m probably still in Mom’s car, taking a nap. She’ll soon tap my shoulder, letting me know we’re five minutes away from Andrew’s and my apartment.
Andrew’s and my apartment—the one we’ve been talking about christening together for months, but he’s doing it with his best friend,our friend.
“Stevie, this isn’t what it looks like,” Andrew says, sliding up his boxers.
Tiffany scoffs mockingly, still naked, not bothering to cover herself up at all.
“Fuck, Tiff, at least use a sheet,” Andrew mumbles.
That’s when I realize I’m still rooted in the spot, and this is really happening. This isn’t a nightmare. Their sweat on the bed is evidence enough. Tiffany’s and Andrew’s nudity is further proof. My boyfriend, my first everything of almost three years, is sleeping with his best friend.
My mouth goes dry as I meet his eyes and see what he’s about to say. The same thing every single guy says in every movie, every TV show, and every book. Usually, in those situations, the girl would attack the other woman or ask how long it’s been going on for, but me? I’m not that kind of person. I’m a deer stuck in the headlights. So, when the person I thought was the love of my life takes a step toward me, I back away.
“No,” I manage to say with a shaky breath. I can’t stop the crack in my voice from passing the lump in my throat since I gothere only five minutes ago. Maybe it’s been less than that, but it’s felt like an eternity.
“Stevie, please, I love you. Let me explain.” He takes another step forward, and I clench my stomach, taking one back.
I shake my head again, my mouth drying up more than before.
Wait, that’s not dryness, it’s a bitter taste, one I know all too well. Panic rises within me when a headache starts to form.
No, it’s been so long.I’ve been free from the burden that was placed on my shoulders months ago, and because of something that one of the few close people in my life did, it’s come back to torment me.
Andrew must read my reaction because he’s rushing to the door, cursing at himself. Before he can reach me, I grab my phone off the floor and run out of the apartment to look for my emergency medication I left downstairs.
Andrew’s steps grow closer and closer every stride of the way, which only makes the headache worse. Luckily, the tingling and spots haven’t appeared. The pain comes and goes, and so does the taste, but that’s nothing new.
I run faster down the steps until I reach the lobby and swipe my duffle bag, escaping through the front door, not caring what else I left behind. I know Andrew will catch up any second, and the last thing I want is for him to take care of me. I’d rather an incident occur in front of strangers who call 911 than him being anywhere near me. That’s when I decide to run down the street, turn the corner, and enter the pizza place that doesn’t close until four in the morning. I rush through the small crowd of customers and into the bathroom. There, I open my water and take the pill I haven’t had to for months, along with some Tylenol.
