“I can’t make friends like you do, Jenn. It’s not that easy,” Stevie says almost too quietly for me to hear, and it hurts something inside of me that she hasn’t been able to find her people here.
“You don’t have to. What you’re doing with the list and putting yourself out there will attract the kind of people you need and deserve in your life. Friends who put the time and effortinto your relationship with them. I know that this year will be amazing, S.”
Stevie mentioned Jenny when we had breakfast together the first and last time. I can see why she’d be best friends with her. It’s not bad advice, even if she did say I was kind of a dick.
After a long beat of silence, Stevie responds.
“You’re usually right, so I’ll take your word for it.”
Jenny laughs. “Okay, so back to Brad and the song. You didn’t sing in front of him, but the number one item on your list is to sing in public. Auditions are coming up pretty soon. What’s your plan then?”
My roommate groans. “Yeah, I know, I need to get on that ASAP…”
I stop listening because her voice and footsteps are growing closer, meaning she might be heading out here. I sprint to the couch and open my phone, pretending to scroll through my feed and acting like I didn’t overhear an intimate conversation.
Right before Stevie opens the door, it hits me that I should’ve moved away from the spot as soon as they finished talking about me. Scratch that, I shouldn’t have listened at all. Guilt slams into me.
Jenny is speaking when I turn to meet Stevie’s gaze.
“Okay, Jenn, I gotta go,” Stevie yells over her friend’s voice. “I love you.” She hangs up and tucks her phone into her pocket.
“Hey.” I smile.
“Hey.” She gives me an uneven smile back.
Her footsteps move to the kitchen, and she does the same thing I was doing a couple of minutes ago, except she grabs one of her containers to heat up.
I break the silence first.
“Did you meet Brad yet?” I don’t know why the hell that was the first thing I had to ask.
She raises her eyebrows. “Um, yeah.”
Nodding, I can’t help but ask her the follow-up question. “Do you guys get along?”
Stevie puts the container into the microwave and nods. “Yes. He is a cool guy. Somewhat of a flirt, but still professional. Thanks again for giving me his number.”
Thank fuck he was helpful and not a douche.“Of course.”
Stevie taps her foot impatiently, making her wide pajama pants sway, as she waits for the food to finish heating.
“Hungry?” I ask, amused.
She smiles briefly. “Yeah, I haven’t eaten much today and my head…”
The unfinished sentence has me standing. “Are you feeling okay?”
Waving her hands in the air, she assures me that she’s fine. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to have a seizure.”
I sigh in relief, sitting back down on the couch.
“Well, never say never.”
Once again, I shoot up, making myself a little dizzy.
Stevie laughs, and I look at her, confused.
“What’s so funny?”
