But all the blinds are closed. And just like that, the hope dies.
The soft porch light glows, and I almost pull over and knock. But all she’d do is curse me out and tell me to leave.
So I keep driving. Past the house. Past the mailbox. Past the stretch of the street where Milo learned to ride his bike last year.
My throat burns, and I fight it back because if I start crying, I don’t know if I’ll stop.
I know I messed up. I know I wasn’t perfect. But that isn’t me anymore. So when do I get a second chance?
My eyes keep going heavy, and I know if I don’t get some sleep, I’m going to be useless at work tomorrow. Sleeping in the car tonight isn’t an option, not when the cold is already inside my bones and it’s only going to get worse.
I kill time for another hour, driving in slow circles until I’m sure the cleaning crew at the diner is gone. When I finally pull in behind the building, my hands are shaking as I turn off theengine and grab my handbag and duffle. I slip around back, unlock the door, and ease it shut behind me.
In the back room, I head straight for the couch and curl up, tugging my jacket tighter as the building’s warmth slowly seeps in. The duffle slips off my shoulder and hits the floor as I dig out my blanket and the thin little pillow I took when Camille kicked me out.
I pull out my phone, then set a few alarms, early enough to make sure no one catches me sleeping here. But the second I lock the screen, it buzzes with a text from Mandy.
Why she’s still up at twelve thirty in the morning is beyond me.
Mandy
OK, can we talk about how you were practically dry humping Kirill today?
Sloane
I wasn’t even close enough to dry humping, but can we talk about why you were even thinking about me dry humping Kirill this late? Or at all?
Mandy
Stop deflecting. When are you going to fuck the man?
Sloane
Never. We are just friends. That’s all.
Mandy
The way he was staring at you while you were holding Lev was anything but friendly. It was more like, “I love you, Sloane. Be my baby mama.”
A laugh jumps out of me before my thumbs fly across the screen.
Sloane
He doesn’t love me, and I’m sure I’m not even his type.
Mandy
Girl. Don’t make me slap you.
Sloane
Lev wanted me to sit with them, so I did. Nothing happened. Don’t make it weird.
She responds a second later.
Mandy
Nothing happened, but you want it to. Just admit it, for fuck’s sake.
