I suck down half of my mimosa, but it doesn’t help quell these raging thoughts. They stay with me as Mom oohs and aahs over the glass planter Ollie got her that changes color in different light. She puts on the new sweater I bought her and does a mini fashion show with it and the new sequined skirt she purchased for New Year’s Eve.
If my mom notices a change in my attitude during breakfast, she doesn’t say anything. Ollie throws me the occasional look, but I ignore him, chomping on my bacon with a vigorous bite.
“Are you sure I can’t send you home with anythingelse?” Mom asks Ollie, shoving another full container into his awaiting hands.
“This will feed me for a week. I promise, I’m good. Thank you.”
She pecks his cheek before giving me one. “Thank you for bringing Ollie. I had a wonderful time with both of you. It’s nice to see you so happy.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
She waves us off as I help Ollie to the truck along the snowy sidewalk. Neither of us is overly talkative on the drive home. He is just as lost in his thoughts as I am.
By the time I’m pulling up to his house, I don’t know if I should get out. “Want me to walk you to the door?”
Ollie shakes his head. “I’m okay. Bye, Hunter.”
“Bye—”
The door is shut before I can even finish saying anything. My eyes track him going into his house. Shutting the door and turning on the lights.
Fuck.
I don’t want to leave. I don’t want this thing to end between the two of us.
Why does it have to?
Because I don’t do relationships? Well, not since I found my boyfriend cheating on me. What if this is the right one and I screw everything up by letting him go?
Fuck that.
Turning off my truck, I jump out and run to the front door. Except I find a slippery spot and go careening not into solid wood, but straight into Ollie, who had opened the door again.
“Ouch.” He whines, rubbing his forehead where our heads smacked together from falling on the floor.
“Are you okay?” I inspect his face, not seeing any damage.
“I think so. Did you forget something?”
“Remember what we said?” I ask.
He gives me a small nod, still rubbing at his head. “Only until Christmas.”
“Only Christmas. But, who dumps people right after Christmas? That’s just mean.”
“So this isn’t you coming to dump me then?” Ollie asks.
“No.”
“You’re going to wait until New Year’s then?”
I shake my head. “That would be a terrible way to start a new year. And Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. That would be pretty shitty too.”
“What you’re saying is there is no good day to dump someone?” Hope sparks in his eyes.
“I mean, I don’t know of a good day. Do you?” I ask.
