“My sister,” he breathes. “She’s not doing well, man.”
My face pales as I fear the worst. If something happened to her, I don’t know what I’d do. We may not be together anymore, and I may not be texting her anymore either, but she still means the world to me. “Did something happen to her?”
“No, no, nothing like that. She—uh—there’s no way she’s over you. That’s my only explanation for the shitshow she’s become.”
That should make me feel better, but it doesn’t. “Did she say something?”
“No, she refuses to talk about it, but she looks like shit. Barely eating. Barely talking. The laughs are limited. She’s just not her ever since…well, you know.”
“Since we broke up?”
“Yeah.”
Well, that makes two of us.I rake a hand down my face. “I don’t know what you want me to do about it.”
“Text her or something, make her feel better.”
“I tried that for months. She doesn’t answer them. She doesn’t want me to talk to her, Dustin.”
There’s a long pause, and I almost think he hung up, but he blurts, “Ask her out again.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Date my sister.”
I shake my head. “It’s too late for that, and you know it. The damage is done. Look, I have to go.” I don’t give him a moment to respond before I hang up, my chest heaving. I could try to ask her back out, but she’ll probably say no, and I can’t take the heartache all over again. I won’t give myself an inch when it comes to hope. I can’t. This is me…letting her go.
SIX MONTHS LATER
Jacob
How’s the internship going?
I’ve been following around the anesthesiologist all day and haven’t had a moment to answer the text that came in thismorning. Now that it’s lunch, though, and I’m on my way to the cafeteria, the time belongs to me.
Me
It’s going good. How’s campus without everyone in it?
He decided to stay back and take some summer classes this summer. Secretly, I think his new girlfriend is the reason. He didn’t want to leave her. Yeah, he finally started dating the girl he met at the beginning of the school year. It took him long enough, and I still haven’t met her, but I’m happy for him.
Jacob
It sucks. The parties suck. Classes suck.
Me
But the sex is good.
Jacob
Damn right.
Me
Gym when I get off?
Jacob
