I’m not saying a word. This time, it’s all on her. This is her chance to explain why she blew us up, when it was all going so well.
Standing there frozen in spot, her hair tumbling around her shoulders and a red plastic cup at her feet. She’s even more beautiful than I remembered—though she seems different, somehow. Then it hits me. She’s wearing a trench and heels.What the hell?My eyes drift up to her face. Her features are pinched; I can see her breath coming in snatches.
I hold my tongue. I hold her gaze.
She shifts her weight from foot to foot and bites her lip, like she’s trying to figure out how to say what she needs to say. In one sweep, she tugs at the belt, and I’m guessing the plan was for the trench to fall open, but the knot tightens, and she curses under her breath.
What the actual fuck?
She takes a deep breath in and eases the belt loose, holding her trench open like she’s hustling.Wow.I was expecting a jumble of bullshit excuses, but instead, I’m staring straight at lingerie probably engineered to take me out on sight.
“Umm…”
That’s pretty much all I’ve got right now. I drink in the sight of her.Is this some kind of joke?She bends over, plucks up the plastic cup, and straightens so fast she teeters on her heels. As she struggles to catch her balance, the drink goes flying through the air and hits me square in the face.Definitely some kind of sick joke.
Lukewarm liquid streams down my face, soaking into my T-shirt, but all I can do is stand there staring at her, too shell-shocked to move. I run my tongue over my lips.Milk.
She widens her eyes. “I…”
I cock an eyebrow at her.You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, lady.Her lips part and close as she struggles for words, and just when I think she’s about to speak, she turns on her heel and dashes down the hall.What the hell just happened?
“Who was that?”
Lewis has sidled up behind me, and as I turn to respond, he snorts, gesturing at the milk still dribbling down my chin.
“Carrie, huh? So, you guys made up?”
“Who said we had a fight?”
“Nobody. It’s just the way you had your emo ass glued to the couch for days.” He peers closer at me. “Is that milk? She came all the way to give you a milk bath?” He snickers. “Wow. You must’ve really fucked up.”
“She’s out of control.”
“Like I always say—girls suck. Not my fault if nobody ever listens to me!”
At least he has the decency to wait until he’s back in his room before bursting out laughing.
Just you wait and see, Lewis. One day, you won’t find it all so funny.
Hearing footsteps in the hall. I whip around. Carrie is back, and my heart skips a beat.
I stare at her, suddenly wary. The pumps are gone. The trench is safely buckled again.
“Just so you know—I don’t take milk in my coffee.”
“I’m sorry, I panicked…”
“Youpanicked? Thank God it was milk, and not a book.”
“I wouldneverthrow a book.” She raises an eyebrow.
“Why not? Since they’re total bullshit.”
She blanches, realization spreading over her face, and though I instantly regret it, I decide to stay quiet. Did she think I would be waiting here for her with open arms?Think again.She dropped me like a piece of shit—she ripped up everything I thought we had going, and then ghosted me. And then she comes over here and throws milk in my face.
“Okay.” She nods slowly. “I deserved that.”
She’s doing her best to seem relaxed, but I know her by now—she’s freaking out. There’s a part of me that just wants to help her anxiety, but I hold back.
