9
Veronica
“Idon’t know what to do,” I wail pathetically down the phone.
I stormed out of Hayden’s house less than a minute ago. I don’t know why. It was an impulsive decision fueled by a somewhat irrational anger. Of course, after the fact, everything tends to look clearer.
“What? Who is this?”
“Who the hell do you think it is? It’s Veronica.” Who the hell doesn’t check caller ID?
“Veronica, what’s wrong?” Immediately her tone softens.
“I lied to you.”
I hear her intake of breath, “About what?”
“Can I come over?”
“Of course.”
It’s not too far to walk. It actually only takes me about fifteen minutes, but it doesn’t matter because, by the time I get there, I’m a wreck. It could’ve been fifteen minutes or five, I still would’ve shown up in the same state.
As I knock on her door, I suddenly hope that she hasn’t got company. I can’t deal with people right now, nor do I want to embarrass myself even further. Walking down the street and blubbering so hard that you trip and skin your knee is embarrassing enough.
For fuck’s sake. I only just met the man!
Sometimes you just need an ugly meltdown in peace.
Katie swings the door open, her freshly dyed red hair glistening under the sunshine.
“Oh, my god! Come in,” she ushers me inside.
“I don’t even know why I’m so emotional, I only met the guy a week ago.”
“Catch me up, what guy?”
In her empty living room, I throw myself down onto the couch and groan. “The one I lied to you about.”
I peek an eye open to see she’s still looking confused. Oh right, because we don’t and never have lied to each other.
“At the Christmas party last week, I met someone. I went home with him that night. It was such an un-me-like thing to do that I knew you’d start worrying and thinking that I’m going through some great depression - and that’s why I lied.”
“Tell me about him.”
“His name is Hayden...Carmichael. He grew up in Naperville with his mom, dad, and three brothers. His mom died in a car accident while he was in high school. He’s a lawyer, he worked at some swanky law firm in Chicago for a while but moved back here about a year ago. He’s utterly gorgeous and I can tell you for a fact he’s the best sex I will ever have.” I huff out a breath, I may have gotten caught up in my own mind while talking. I look to Katie to see a weird look masking her face. “What’s with the face?”
“How long did you say you’ve known this guy?”
“About a week.”
“Aww,” she coos while taking the seat next to me on the couch. “Someone’s in looooooove.”
She goes to pinch my cheeks, but I slap away her hands. What the hell?
“Katie, you can’t fall in love in a week.”
“And yet, there’s such a thing as love at first sight. Explain that?”
