“Sorry, I need to take this.”
Walking a few steps away, I see David’s phone on the screen.
“Hey man, what’s up?”
“Where the hell are you?”
His harsh tone takes me aback. “I’m at the bar, about to leave.”
“Leave with someone? Or are you going home?”
“Umm, well,” I stammer. “I was planning to leave with someone, but if something’s wrong I can come over. Do you need something?”
Please say yes.
“You should definitely come over,” he murmurs. “But I’m not at home, I’m at Abby’s.”
What?
“What the hell are you doing there?”
“She called me earlier, she was upset,” he said, his tone turning sharp again. “She was lonely. Said you left without really saying anything. You hurt her feelings, man.”
“Shit,” I mutter, looking over my shoulder at Dani, who looks increasingly annoyed the longer I talk. “Okay, let me handle this, and then I’ll be home. Thanks for calling me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he says dismissively. “Just don’t be a dick, okay? She told me what happened; it’s not her fault you walked in on her.”
“She told you about that?”
“And she told me you freaked the hell out about it. Figure your shit out and get over it, there are more important things than feeling embarrassed.”
Guilt grips my insides, making it impossible to take a full breath.
“Okay,” I choke out. “I’ll come home. And I’ll apologize.”
“Good,” he says, and abruptly hangs up.
Turning back to Dani, I give her an apologetic grimace.
“Listen, I hate to do this to you–”
“No, you don’t,” she scoffs. “I’m not stupid, I can tell you weren’t that into me. Don’t lie.”
“I really am sorry,” I plead. “I wasn’t trying to waste your time; I was just trying to get back out there. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, well, next time, make sure you’reactuallyready to get back out there,” she says bitterly. “Instead of using someone as your guinea pig.”
With that, she turns on her heel and stalks inside, leaving me feeling like a huge piece of shit. She’s right–I was using her. Everything I’ve done since the moment I opened that bedroom door has been selfish, and borderline cruel.
Walking back to my Jeep like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs, I send Abby a text.
Jack:Hey, I’m on my way home. I’m sorry I left the way I did earlier.
No response.
Jack:I’ll see you soon.
After a few moments of waiting for a response, I come to terms with the fact that I’m not getting one and start my own weird version of a walk of shame back home.
