“I know,” I cut Talia off, but with a smile. “I won’t eat much. I promise.”
“What movie are we watching tonight? One of the classics?” Lou asks, picking up the remote. “While You Were Sleeping?How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?”
“Can we watch something thatisn’tromantic?” I grimace.
“Riiiight, sorry. Um ...Jurassic Park?Star Wars?A Quiet Place?”
Talia leans forward to pin Lou with raised eyebrows. “There’s something wrong with you.”
“I’m trying to think of movies without any romance!”
“And the best you can come up with isA Quiet Place?”
I take another handful of popcorn. “Speaking of romance ... are you sure Chris is okay with you ditching him tonight?”
“Ooooh, how are things with Chris?” Talia asks.
“Well, since he’s been here every night this week, I’d say pretty good.” I waggle my eyebrows.
Lou blushes. “He’s ... he’s great.”
“You’ll have to tell him thank you for letting us steal you away,” I say.
“He doesn’t have to see me seven days a week. We’re not going to bethatcouple.”
I stifle a laugh. I was in the room when she called him to tell him we were going to do a girls’ night (Talia and Lou’s attempt to cheer me up after a long week) and heard her say, “I know, I’ll miss yousomuch too. We can go to breakfast tomorrow, if you want?”
Notthatcouple, ha!But I leave it alone. I don’t want to make her feel bad. Shedidhold her ground and choose to be with me on Friday night because I’mthatpathetic.
I’ve spent the whole week visiting Farmor and helping her with PT, trying to get as much movement and control back in her right hand as possible, or working nonstop. Generally trying in every way possible not to think about Hunter, who took my hint and never texted again. The relief still hasn’t come. Only grief.
The only good that’s come of throwing myself even more thoroughly into work is that as I’ve grappled with the guilt and pain of realizing I’m the recipient of Lyla’s heart, I came up with an idea for something I’m really excited about: combining two of the most important things in the world, at least for me.
“How aboutKnives Out?” Talia lets Lou off the hook and doesn’t press the issue of her new relationship with Chris.
“I haven’t seen it,” I admit. “Was that the murder-mystery one from years ago?”
“You haven’t seen it? Oh, it’ssogood! And no romance ... I don’t think.”
While Lou searches for it on various streaming services, Talia turns to me. “How’s the fundraiser research going?”
I can’t help but smile as I think of the phone call I had earlier. “It’s really coming along. I’ve tracked down two other transplant survivors who run businesses in Phoenix who are interested in joining me. They loved the idea of raising money for transplant-donor families. I think it might actually happen!”
“I’m really proud of you,” Talia says. “And Austin was totally on board with donating a website to the cause—since it’s for charity.” She rolls her eyes, but then continues, “Although hemighthave asked if you and Hunter were still dating.”
My rising excitement bottoms out, plummeting into the icy depths of anxiety. “What did you tell him?”
“I said I don’t know.”
“Well, the answer isno,” I say, wanting it to sound firm and assured. Instead, it comes out forlorn. Lou tenses next to me, her disapproval silent but palpable. “Not that I want Austin to know that, though,” I add lamely.
“Found it!” she blurts out, and we all turn to the TV, grateful for the distraction. Neither of my friends has called me out on pushing Hunter away—yet. I hope that maybe this time, they understand it really is for the best.
Even though it sucks.
We’re halfway through the movie (and the crack-corn) when there’s a knock at the door. Lou pauses the movie and hurries to the foyer. There’s a split second where I’m unable to keep my hopes from jumping that maybe, justmaybeit’sHunter. But I squash the hope as quickly as it rises. Even though the condo has seemed empty without him popping in at all hours of the day and night, having him show up would only make everything harder. I truly am relieved when she opens the door and squeals, “Chris!”
He follows Lou to us with two boxes of pizza. “I thought you girls might get hungry.”
