“Thanks.”
“You sure you’re okay?” Noah asks.
“Yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll meet you at the bar.” I disconnect.
After throwing on a pair of sneakers, I quickly leave my hotel room and find the running path. I don’t know my way around the city, but I stay on the track, twisting through the city and around the lake. When I’m about six miles out, I turn around and follow the same route back.
The entire run, I’m sorting through confusing thoughts in my head.
Why can’t I find Billie?
What was my relationship with Charlotte? I know we’ve had sex. We had to have, based on my dreams. Plus, Noah told me I stayed with her a few nights. But what happened those nights?
Why did I feel all those emotions when I saw her?
What about Billie?
I’m not closer to any answers after my run than before, and I’m even more frustrated.
When I get done running, I’m drenched in sweat, and my heart is beating hard. I put my hands on the back of my head and jog another mile to cool down, trying to get the faces of both Billie and Charlotte out of my mind.
But it’s impossible.
I finally head back into the hotel, go up to my room, and shower. Noah sends me the address. It’s a bar, not too far away from the hotel. I’ve got time, so I use the map on my phone and walk.
I’ve lived in New York City my entire life and love everything about it. Chicago is a big city but not as big as New York. While everyone is hustling about, just like New York, it still feels different.
Noah moved within the last year, and I know he struggled a bit, transitioning. I suspect it will be easier for me since he’s here.
When I get to the bar, Noah fist-bumps me, and I sit down, just as the waitress comes over with two beers on a tray.
She tries to flirt with Noah and me, but we don’t engage. When she leaves, Noah leans into the table. “What’s going on? You sure you are okay?”
Noah has been my friend almost my entire life. We’ve been through everything together. He knows me better than anyone. Hell, he may know me better than I know myself right now, based on my memory issues.
I sigh. “Tell me about Charlotte.”
He jerks his head at me. “You remember her?”
While I tap my fingers on the table, my pulse feels like it’s going to beat through my neck. I’ve never disclosed to anyone, including Noah, that I have dreams every night about a woman that isn’t Billie.
“I just went through a seven-hour surgery with her.”
Noah’s eyes widen. “Wow. What happened?”
“I’ve hurt her.”
“Xander, what happened? Tell me.”
I take a big gulp of beer, not tasting it. “I’ll tell you everything, but I want you to explain what happened with Billie and me. I know you’re holding something back from me.”
Noah shakes his head. “I’ve told you everything there is to know. Anything you’ve ever told me. Why would I hide something from you?”
Sitting back farther in the booth, I sigh. “It doesn’t make sense to me. We just broke up?”
“Yes. You were working as a paramedic and putting yourself through medical school. Billie didn’t like your schedule. In fairness, she hardly saw you. You really had a crazy schedule.”
“So, she left me?”
