Chapter 30
Ben
Every time I tried to sleep, my brain would conjure up images of Tristan and Mike—I remembered Tristan’s date’s name at some point during the night—laughing together. Touching each other. Falling asleep in each other’s arms.
I had no clue how I was going to get through the day, but the little glimmer of hope that Tristan would be here soon to start working in the living room kept me going.
Until my phone rang exactly one hour later.
I snatched it off the side, a mixture of relief and rage coursing through me at seeing Tristan’s name flash up on the screen. “Bug.”
“Hey, man.” The rage swirling through me instantly changed to concern at the weariness in Tristan’s voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you last night.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “No, actually. I…uh, I’m not feeling great. I fell asleep after I brought the girls back from the arcade, and I’ve only just woken up. My phone died, so your message has only just come through.”
Monumental relief swamped me. He hadn’t been out with Mike. My eyes squeezed closed in a bid to ease the stabbing at the back of them. The thought of him being with Mike had unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.
“Listen,” Tristan continued. “I’m not gonna be able to work at your place today. I think I just need to rest.”
“Yeah, of course, Bug. Do you need anything?” Selfishly, a pang of disappointment hit me. I really wanted to see him.
“No, I’m good thanks,” he paused, and the hesitation spoke volumes. “We do need to talk, though.”
“Yeah,” I replied quietly, my throat burning as the stabbing in my eyes intensified.
Several tense seconds passed where neither of us said a word. A heavy lump of dread settled in my gut, and a thought churned in my head, one I didn’t want to acknowledge.
Tristan is going to end things between us.
“I’m going to head back to bed,” he finally said, breaking the silence.
“Okay, Bug. Get some rest. I hope you feel better.”
He murmured his thanks before hanging up. I didn’t know how much time passed before I dragged my ass out of bed, not knowing what the hell to do about the hurt in my heart.