“You needed a new phone. Yours is broken, and you can’t go around with a broken phone,” he says casually.
“And what made you think you needed to buy me one?” I ask, my agitation growing.
“You told me you couldn’t afford it right now, and I can. Why shouldn’t I help? I care for you,” he counters, sounding a bit defensive.
“I don’t need anyone swooping in to take care of me,” I say, standing and grabbing my backpack. “If being with someone who doesn’t have enough money for new things isn’t good enough for you, then I’m not good enough, and you should look elsewhere.”
“That’s not what this is,” Josh starts, but I’m already heading for the door. “Fuck, Carolina, wait!” he calls after me, following me and grabbing my forearm to make me stop.
Pain shoots through me, and an “Ah” slips out of my lips, face scrunched up.
He lets go of me immediately, “What—” he starts.
“Don’t,” I warn, glaring at him.
It’s enough to make him step back, and I leave without another word from him.
FORTY-TWO
Our shift is over,and we’re parked down the street from the bar Carolina works at. I couldn’t bring myself to drive home. I need to talk to her, but I want to wait until she finishes her shift. It wouldn’t be right to barge in while she’s working to discuss our personal stuffagain.
We watch as the last patrons leave the bar, followed by her blonde coworker and a shorter man with a beer belly, who walk out arm in arm. I watch as Carolina locks the door behind them through the glass entrance.
It’s now or never.
“Do you think this is a good idea?” Clay asks, his concern etched on his face.
I furrow my brows. “What do you mean? I need to apologize. I messed up.”
He tilts his head, studying me. “Do you truly believe that? Or are you just saying sorry to avoid her being mad at you?”
His words make me pause and consider his perspective. I can see where she’s coming from, but I don’t think I’m entirely in the wrong. She needed help, and I provided it. It’s her pride that’s standing in the way.
“If you go in there without being fully ready to acknowledge you are in the wrong, this could blow up, and we don’t want that,” he says.
“So, what do you suggest I do?” I ask, feeling torn.
“I think I should talk to her first, gauge her feelings a bit. Right now, she needs a friend more than a boyfriend. Look, I’ll call you and put my phone in my pocket so you can hear our conversation. What do you think?” Clay asks.
“I’m pretty sure that’s illegal, and if she finds out, she’ll feel betrayed. I don’t want to do that,” I say, biting my lip.
“Fine, do what you want. I’m going to call you, and you can decide if you want to pick up,” Clay says, getting out of the car and making his way toward the bar.
Halfway there, my phone starts ringing. If I’m honest with myself, I need to know what they’re going to talk about, even if it’s wrong. I pick up the call, put it on speaker, and watch through the car window as Clay puts his phone in the pocket of his uniform pants, muffling the sound slightly, but I can still hear the knocking on the glass.
Carolina comes to the door and opens it slightly, her voice muffled through the speakerphone. “What are you doing here?” she asks.
“Let me in. I thought maybe you needed someone to talk to,” Clay says, his tone gentle without his usual humor.
“It’s nearly two in the morning,” she points out. “Did Josh send you?”
Josh, not Joshua.That’s not a good sign.
“No, I genuinely thought you needed a friend, and since we’re the best of friends, I’m here,” Clay says, the smirk back in his voice.
“Whatever, I need to close up in the back. Come in,” she says, stepping away from the door and allowing him entry.
They move out of my view after she locks the door behind them, but I can still hear their conversation through the phone.
