“The one on the right. Aren’t you guys friends with him?”
“Andy?”
“I think.”
“But that can’t be right. He’s supposed to be at the gym with Travis. They carpooled together. “
Silence strings between us for too long before she says, “He’s definitely getting a workout, but not at the gym unless that’s code for his bedroom.”
Heart racing in my chest, I sit closer to the edge of the swing. “Why would Travis say they were carpooling if Andy was having a friend over?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice goes quiet.
Did he go somewhere else? Has he not been going to the gym all this time? So many questions swirl in my head until a dizzy spell hits me. “Who is the other guy? Can you see him?”
“No. His face is at an odd angle. Dang, they’re both out of view now. Who knew this was going to be coffee and a show at your house.”
I want to laugh but can’t. A bad feeling washes over me, and I set my mug between my thighs, unable to steady my breaths as everything sounds so loud around me—my friend’s breathing,birds chirping, wind blowing, and distant moaning. Someone grunts loudly before yelling a slew of curse words. That voice. It’s the one I’ve heard telling me he’ll always be here. One that said he loved me last night after we made love. No. I have to be wrong.
“Man. They’re really going at it.”
“Yeah,” is all I’m able to say.
“You should call him.” Her words have me sitting taller.
“Huh?”
“Travis. Call and see where he is. Maybe Andy changed his mind last minute.” For whatever reason, her mind isn’t going where mine is, unless it’s been there and she’s hoping to be wrong.
I want to be wrong too. “Yeah. I can do that.” I rub a hand on my knee, using my other hand to pluck my phone from my pocket. I hit the assist button, asking it to call Travis. His ringtone goes off only feet away and I freeze. He doesn’t answer.
“Hang up,” she stammers, and she hits the button before I can say anything then snatches the phone from my hand. The same ring goes off and again he doesn’t answer.
“That asshole,” she bites out, dropping my phone between us. I grab her arm before she can fully jump off the swing.
“Wait. Maybe it’s a coincidence.” My voice trembles.
“You and I both know damn well it isn’t.” She shakes me off her. “How could he do this to you? Like, what a piece of shit to do it while you’re right next door too, like it’s some sick game to them.”
“Just stay here with me, okay? I’ll talk with him when he comes home.”
“Oh yeah, sure. Let’s give him the privilege of finishing . . . I think not.” She gets to her feet and I grab forward, catching air.
“Janie.”
Her footsteps stomp away from me and grass crunches beneath her shoes. There’s banging on a door minutes later, and so much screaming. I try to tune it out, not ready to hear the truth yet. It’s hard to avoid for long, though, when Travis’s voice is mixing with Andy’s from the same doorway.
My heart falls into my stomach. Talk about another life change I’m not equipped to get through. I’m so ready to forgive him too. To work through our issues, wanting to be better. Wanting to do better. Travis steers me into the house and sits me on the couch next to him. I feel like I’m under water and he’s talking above me. The only words that stick out are the hardest ones to hear.
“I tried but I don’t think I can keep pretending things are working between us when they aren’t.”
“Is it because of the accident? The doctor said I’d adjust, and once I do, I won’t need help as—”
“No.” His fingers rub over mine. “There were problems before that, and I was hoping that moving in together would fix them. All it did was make me see how different we were.”
“And give you access to another place to put your dick.”
He lets out a rough sigh. “I wanted to end things sooner but decided to wait until after Christmas since I know how important spending time in your grandparents’ cabin is for you. And if you still want me to come—”
