I want to tell her the whole story, from start to finish.Just fucking say it! My brother died in a motorbike accident.It’s not some deep dark secret. But no matter how I try, the words won’t come.
“I’ve just been kind of out of it lately.”
“I noticed.”
“It’s just that—”
“You don’t owe me anything, okay? I get that, Lane. I’m all up in your space, spreading my shit all over your apartment. I promise things won’t be weird between us.”
“You don’t take up that much space,” I mutter, twisting the seam of my jacket.
“There should be some dorms freeing up in January. It’s been months now since we first made our deal. You never said I could just crash at your place forever.”
I got used to it, though. Even started to kind of like it, maybe.
“I’m heading home,” she continues. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She slips around me, but I grapple for her hand, my fingers sliding between hers. She looks down, lips parted.
“Happy birthday,” I say.
Her eyes widen. I feel her fingers tightening around mine.
“How did you know?”
“Hope told me,” I lie.
I don’t want her to know it was Kirk. I don’t ever want to hear his name.
“I mean, I…” She bites the inside of her cheek. “Thank you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s no big deal.”
“Of course it’s a big deal!”
I’m bummed she didn’t tell me—I’d have picked her up a little something to celebrate. Suddenly, my gaze comes to rest on a bush behind her.
“Fair Lady Heartbreak, will thou accept this blossom?”
I pluck a flower off and hold it out to her with a dramatic bow.
“Since it’s my birthday, how about you drop the nickname for the night?” She brings the petals to her nose, and pulls a face.
“What’s the problem?”
“It smells like piss.” She tosses the flower on the ground with a snicker.
“So ungrateful.” I mime outrage. “At least it got a smile out of you, though.” I tug at her hand. “Come on! Let’s go.”
“Where? I don’t need a ride home, you know. I was planning on calling a cab.”
I gasp. “And there I was, thinking you were a loyal customer.”
“Go have fun, Lane.”
“I’m not interested in fun.” I frown, and I can’t help tracing a small line across her palm. “We both had a shitty night. We need alcohol. I can sneak you a drink.”
