Page 118 of Rock Me

"Like, owe me a lunch date to Grimaldi’s. Puhleeaasssse! I'm having such a craving for their Cobb salad. I'll eat super fast! I won't even chew, promise!"

I sigh and slide my legs off the bed. "Fine. But then we're coming straight home."

"Yay!"

I smile at her excitement and reach for the dress on the floor. She can make me go, but she can't make me dress up.

"Hey, Noémie? I'm sorry that you're in pain, but I think it's better this way. The way it turned out."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... with the guy. He wasn't the guy for you. It wasn't ever going to work out, you weren’t right for each other. I knew he'd hurt you in the end. I'm sorry I was right." She shrugs and leaves to get ready.

I don't have the energy to tell her that she was wrong.

That I was the one doing the hurting all along.

And that in fact, we were perfect for each other.

I pull the flowery dress over my head, and try not to remember the last time I wore it.

"Paige?" I call out, and she appears in my doorway almost instantly. "I think... I think I'm going to go away for a few days."

She nods and smiles "I think that might be a good idea. Just give me five minutes."

She disappears and I can't even begin to guess what she's up to, always surprising me, never predictable.

She comes back with two sheets of people in her hand, grinning as she waves them at me.

"Forget lunch, we're going to the airport."

I knew it. "What? Where?"

"Duh, where do you think?”

I look at the tickets in her hand and the tears well up in my eyes.

"Home!" I gasp and she beams and nods.

"Yup, home."