“I know. I’m the best friend, ever.” She sighed. “Liv, why don’t you just call him?”
I shook my head. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” she asked, dropping the ice cream into the freezer drawer.
“Because I fucked up!” I snapped.
She continued to unpack the groceries. “Pretty sure he knows that.”
“Probably, because if he thoughthe’dbeen in the wrong, he’d be here right now with some big gesture trying to fix things.”
“Does he even know this place exists?” Clementine challenged as she put groceries away. “It’s kind of why you asked to hide here, right?”
“Please refer to the bestie handbook and leave logic out of this conversation.”
“Sorry.” Clementine smiled gently, handing me a beer.
“Has he called you?” I asked hopefully.
She shook her head, twisting the top off her own beer and taking a swig. “Not even a text. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise. I’ve been using a burner to call and text you.”
“Right. I forgot about that,” I whispered. “It’s really over.”
“Why don’t you just go home and talk to him? Work things out.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to work out anymore,” I said, then took a swig of beer. “He promised he’d always come for me. But I’ve obviously pushed him too far this time.”
“I’m sorry, honey bunch. Why don’t you go take a shower while I make dinner? I have to head back but let me get you fed before I do that.”
I nodded, resigned to a life without Doc. “You really are the best friend on the planet, you know that, right?”
“Oh, I’m totally aware.”
I grinned and headed to the shower. Admittedly, it did feel better to clean up, although, the damn anvil sitting on my heart didn’t go away. I missed my man and I had no idea how to make any of this right.
After drying off, I dressed quickly, pulling on one of Doc’s Army sweatshirts before brushing my hair out and studying my reflection in the mirror. I was contemplating going blonde again. I’d tried it a couple of times, but Doc wasn’t a fan. Not that he had much say over the color of my hair, really, but he liked me the way God created me, and said that my natural brunette made my eyes bluer.
I sighed. I guess it didn’t really matter now. I could shave my head and he’d give no shits whatsoever. Pulling my hair into a scrunchy, I made my way to the kitchen. “Clem, do you need—”
I froze.
Doc stood against the kitchen island, his arms crossed, studying me and I was sure I was seeing a ghost. Clementine was nowhere to be seen, and it didn’t appear that anything was cooking on the stove.
“How—?”
“Not a word,” he growled.
I bit my lip. God, he looked wrecked. He had dark rings under his eyes and his cheeks were a little more sunken in than normal. He’d obviously lost weight, and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and hold him before I force fed him.
“Tris—”
“I said not one goddamn word, Olivia,” he snapped.
I nodded, dying to touch him.
“Thirteen days,” he said, his eyes raking over me.
“And six hours.” Which was exactly how long we’d been apart.
