“Thank you for being so kind. I’m glad I bumped into you; I really needed to hear that. I’m sorry I never called you, I meant to, I just got caught up in everything the past few weeks.”
Freddie cackled. “We thought we might have heard from you, but I guess now we know why we haven’t. You’ve had no spare time.”
Wolfie sipped on her coffee. “Why don’t you come over soon and watch an away game with us? Or we can go shopping or to lunch. But either way, we’re always here if you need to talk, because we understand what you’re going through. Plus, we’d just love to spend time with you. We don’t have a ton of girlfriends in the city.”
“Yes, I’d really like that. Thank you.”
“Good.” Freddie looked around for the waitress. “And now that we’re not torturing ourselves in a class, I’m making the most of this morning and ordering cake for my second breakfast.”
Istepped out of the shower, exhausted, ready for bed. I knew Drew had been at practice with the boys and they’d spent the afternoon together, so I hadn’t heard much from him except a few texts.
After more coffee and cake, Wolfie and Freddie had headed home for a nap, and I’d walked back to my apartment. My tears had dried up, the pressure in my chest eased. I’d thought about what the girls had said and they were right, I needed to trust him.
And I knew deep down I did.
It was just all so new, and the last few weeks had been a lot, even if it did feel so normal and right and easy, like we’d known each other for a lifetime.
I would talk to Drew properly when I saw him, but I’d decided tonight I was going to be on my own.
By myself.
I was going to stand strong against his charms and my weakness, because I already knew he’d try and see me and I would cave without question, because I wanted to see him too. And I had absolutely no self-control when it came to Drew Crawley.
I walked into the kitchen, picking up my phone from the table.
Dickhead:5 missed calls
Dickhead: Emerson stop this childish behavior. Pick up the phone when I call you
Jesus, Richard, will you fucking fuck off?! Take the fucking hint!
It buzzed in my hand and I jumped out of my skin, causing it to fly into the air. I reached out for it, barely catching it before it could smash on the floor and still managed to answer it before it stopped buzzing. I sat back against the wall, catching my breath from the unexpected exertion.
Drew’s face flashed across the screen.
“There she is! There’s my beautiful girl.”
He was so gorgeous, the edges of his hazel eyes creasing as he grinned at me. His happiness was infectious as always, spreading through my veins and rooting in my heart, taking hold until it bloomed.
My smile was permanent when he was around.
“Hi, babe.”
“How was your day?”
I tried to keep my face as neutral as possible. I didn’t want to do this over the phone. “Not bad. How was yours?”
He frowned. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’m just tired.”
I really needed to get better at lying.
“Luck…” He stared at me. “You’re sitting on the floor in a towel.”
Stupid FaceTime. I stood up, pushing away from the wall and gripping my towel so it didn’t fall. “I dropped my phone as I answered.”
“And...?”
