“What? What is it? You don’t want to see me?”
“Of course I want to see you.”
“Then what’s wrong? Why can’t you come out here?”
“I just can’t, okay?”
“But I already bought the ticket.”
“You shouldn’t have. You should’ve talked to me first.”
“I don’t understand. You have something you’d rather do than see me? You don’t even have to pay for anything. My uncle bought the ticket and I have an allowance to cover anything else. All you have to do is—”
“I can’t, okay?” he says, getting angry. “I said no.”
“Why?” Tears trickle down my face. “What’s going on?”
“Things are just . . .” He sighs. “Different now.”
“Different how? What are you saying?”
“I’ll call you later. I can’t do this right now.”
“Do what? What are you talking about?”
“Axl, what’s taking so long?” a girl says in the background. It’s the girl who answered his phone.
“I told you to wait at the table,” he says, his voice muffled like he covered his phone.
“Who is she?” I demand.
“Rumor, I have to go. This isn’t a good time.”
“Whenisa good time? When you’re not on a date?” I yell, my anger skyrocketing.
“Babe, just calm down. It’s not what you think.”
“Really? Then what is it, Axl? What the hell’s going on there? Why are you out with that girl and why is she answering your phone?”
He blows out a breath.
“Just say it.” Tears are now pouring from my eyes. “You’re cheating on me with that girl.”
“I’m not—” He blows out another breath.
“Tell me the truth, Axl. We always said we’d tell each other the truth. So tell me.” I pause, more tears falling. “Are you cheating on me?”
“It’s just . . .” He takes a breath. “You don’t understand how hard it’s been.”
“Are you serious right now?” I yell. “You think I don’t understand how hard it’s been to be apart?”
“It’s different for guys. We have . . . needs.”
“You didnotjust fucking say that!” I’m pacing the floor again, wanting to throw something. Punch something. Anything to release all this anger inside me. “You’re telling me you cheated on me because of sex? Because you couldn’t go without it?”
“If you were a guy, you’d understand. You can go for weeks, months, without it but I can’t go that long.”
“So you went out and found some other girl? And you weren’t going to tell me?”
