Chapter 30
I get home from work, not bothering to go boxing tonight. I need to prepare the house and then dinner. Jeremy is coming over.
He’s meeting Summer. Chelsea will be here too, but he’s already met her.
This is the first time he’s been inside my place for dinner.
I clean the floors while the girls are out. Chelsea went to pick up wine for dinner and Summer is in the shower.
I finish putting the vacuum away when Chelsea steps through the door.
I wash my hands and begin prepping the crumbed fish. “Did you want a hand?” she asks.
I lay out all the ingredients, pouring flour, egg, and breadcrumbs into bowls.
“No. I’m good. I need to keep busy, so I don’t watch the time.”
She flicks the kettle on to make tea. She sits down on the stool waiting.
“You’ve really fallen for him, haven”t you?”
I don’t bother hiding it.
“Yeah. I have.”
She stays silent and I worry about her with Bobby. Her phone chimes. I assume it’s the devil himself.
“Is everything okay with Bobby?” I ask softly.
“Yeah, why?” She frowns, looking up from her phone.
The kettle has boiled, so she gets up, tucks her phone away, and makes tea. “Did you want tea?”
“No, I”m good. At Jeremy’s birthday dinner, I went looking for you and I came outside to find you hugging Evan.”
She returns to her seat on the stool. I’ve finished breading the pieces of fish and now I move on to deep frying them.
“That was nothing. Bobby cancelled our plans, so I was upset. I didn’t want to tell you and ruin your night. Evan came out to take a business call and saw me.”
“Are you still with Bobby?”
“Of course. There’s nothing going on with me and Evan. I hugged him and that was it. I love Bobby.”
I look over at her and the hearts in her eyes kill me. I wish she didn’t love him. She deserves better. But it’s not my life.
“Okay, okay, I’m just asking. But that was nice of Evan though. He seems quiet, so I was surprised to find him comforting you.”
She laughs. “He didn’t exactly have a choice. He asked if I was okay, and I pretty much cried and threw myself onto his chest.”
I giggle, picturing her doing that.
“Did you tell Jeremy?” she asks with horror-filled eyes.
I shake my head. “No. I wanted to talk to you first.”
“Please don’t say anything,” she begs.
I groan. “I don’t want to keep secrets from him.”
“This technically isn’t a secret. No point in telling him when I’ll never see his brother again.”
I agree. “Fine, but if you do, I’m telling him.”
“Okay.”
I continue to cook the fish as I turn the burner on for the pre-cut vegetables.
“Something smells good,” Summer calls as she enters the kitchen.
“I hope you’re hungry, there”s plenty to eat.”
“I’m always hungry. And I can always take leftovers for lunch tomorrow,” Summer suggests.
“What time is Jeremy coming?” Chelsea asks.
“6.”
“That’s now.” Chelsea replies laughing.
I frown. “Really?” I frown. “He’s late again,” I murmur to myself, glancing toward the door.
“Yeah,” Summer replies.
I push it aside and focus on getting myself ready.
The girls must see my panic-stricken face.
“Let me take over cooking, you go and freshen up,” Chelsea offers.
“You look pale,” Summer adds.
“Jeez, thanks, I won’t be long. I just want to freshen up.”
“Take your time, we can entertain him until you”re done,” Summer says.
My mouth falls open.
“I don’t mean to entertain him like that. Jesus, woman,” Summer says.
I laugh. “I’ll be back soon. Keep an eye on the food, please, Chelsea.”
“Don’t you trust me?” Summer calls out as I head to the bathroom.
“You don’t like cooking,” I shout as I reach my room.
I pull out a pair of jeans and a knitted sweater. I shower and dress. Then put a little makeup on. It’s been half an hour, so Jeremy should be here. I return to the kitchen. Chelsea and Summer have put the food onto plates. I look around and don’t spot him.
“He isn’t here?” I ask the girls.
“No. Give him a call,” Chelsea says.
Summer pours wine into the glasses that are on the set table.
Everything is ready for dinner. We’re just missing Jeremy.
I call him. It goes straight to the voicemail.
My phone buzzes with a text message.
Jeremy: I’m stuck in a meeting. I’ll call you when I’m done.
Nova:Will you be coming for dinner?
Jeremy:Sorry, something came up at work. Can we reschedule?
My heart drops. I understand he has to work, but meeting my closest friends was important to me. I can’t help but be angry. I was disappointed in him coming late to my parents but now cancelling with my roommates has snapped something in me.
Our lifestyles are just too different. I should go back to only focusing on work and my dad.
Nova: No.
My phone rings in my hand. Jeremy”s name flashes on the screen. I inhale a deep breath and answer, “Yes.”
“I’m really sorry. I’m down a few workers.”
I glance down at my bare feet. Usually, I’d just accept it, but I can’t this time. He broke something in me.
“Meeting my parents was important to me but you were late that night. And tonight, you cancel.”
“I’m really sorry I messed up again.”
“You’re not prioritizing our relationship. I need someone to be there when it matters.”
“I am. I’m coming over now,” he says in panic.
I sigh, not wanting to argue right now. “Don’t. I think it’s best for both of us to take a step back.”
I pinch my lips tight to stop them from trembling, but it doesn’t stop the tears that fill my eyes. I want him to myself. His last relationship ended due to his workaholic tendencies. I had a hard time grasping how bad it must have gotten. I thought I wasn’t as high maintenance. I thought I didn’t need all his time, but I guess I was wrong.
I hang up, and before I can take back the words, I turn my phone off and swat my tears away and walk back to rejoin the girls.
“Let”s eat,” I announce. Even though I’m not at all hungry now. My heart is in my throat from asking him for space.
“What about Jeremy?” Summer asks.
“He’s stuck at work.”
“Oh damn. So I won’t get to meet him?” Summer asks.
“Unfortunately, not. I asked for some space.”
“You what?” Summer gasps.
“He’s always working. Last night he was late meeting my parents and now not showing up toni—” My voice cracks.
“Here.” Chelsea hands me a glass of wine.
“Thanks.” I sniff, taking the glass.
Summer puts her hand over my shoulder, guiding me to the sofa. A mix of emotions pulses through me, each one a sharp stab of pain. I’m torn between the memories Jeremy and I shared, and the painful need to let go. The weight of it all suffocates me, as I struggle to make sense of the shattered pieces of my heart.