Well, I guess she can finally do what she wants.
Fuck. I really need to unfollow her.
“You need to stop.”
Charlie reaches over the back of the couch and grabs my phone from my hand.
“Hey!”
Charlie peers at my phone and flashes it back to me. “You’re following her best friend’s influencer account?”
I can hear the judgment in his tone. Popping up onto my knees, I grab my phone back from him. “I forgot I was. I unfollowed everyone else.”
Charlie heads into the kitchen, shaking his head. “It’s not healthy for you to sit and stare at social media all day.”
“I know that.” I flop back onto the couch like a dramatic teenager. “And when did you get home?”
At least he has a job to go to. Having worked for Delia’s family’s company, even remotely, I also lost my job.
I don’t think I’ve ever been at a lower point in my life.
“I texted to see if you were okay, but you never responded.”
Pulling up my texts, I see them.
Charlie
Morning! Feeling okay today?
How are you feeling, Brooks? Okay?
Okay, seriously, why aren’t you responding?
Did you die? You always text me back immediately.
Okay, if you’re dead when I come inside in ten minutes, I’ll never forgive you
I wince. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I just want to make sureyou’reokay,” Charlie calls out from the kitchen.
“It just sucks, ya know?” I tell him. Charlie is the only person I would confess my true feelings to because I feel safe. Every time my parents call, I paste on a happy voice so they don’t know how bad I’m really feeling. Being around Charlie is about the one good thing I have going for me right now. “I’m homeless, jobless, and single around my favorite holiday. It’s the trifecta of suckage.”
Charlie’s there, dropping onto his knees and resting his arms on the back of the couch. I stare at my best friend. His brown hair flops into his eyes.
“You’re sad.”
I snort a laugh. “Stating the obvious, Charlie.”
“I’m going to cheer you up.”
Sitting up, I rest my chin on the back of the couch. Up close, I can see the determined look in Charlie’s eyes. “And how are you going to do that?”
“Easy.” Charlie smiles and it reaches his eyes. “We’re going to celebrate Christmas together.”
“Christmas isn’t for another three weeks, Charlie.”
“Duh. I’m going to pick out my Christmas tree tomorrow, so you’re going to help. Then we’ll decorate. We’ll make Christmas cookies, sing carols, and watch cheesy Christmas movies. It’ll be perfect.”
