Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
REID
It takes every ounce of restraint to wait until after the sun rises to check in with her.
Reid
Hey :)
10:00 am
Do you want to get a bite to eat today?
message unread
10:13 am
Outgoing Call to Annika - No Answer
I’m starting to panic. What if this is it? Our friendship is over. I just need her to give me one more chance. I just need to talk to her. I get a text from Tyler just before I’m about to send Annika another message.
10:18 am
Tyler
Has she responded to you yet?
Reid
No, she’s giving me the silent treatment.
Tyler
You’re screwed
Reid
Gee thanks, I’m freaking out
Tyler
just wait a bit and try again
Reid
okay.
What if I fucked it up? What if I missed out?
Tyler
you always come back to each other
Reid
thanks for the reassurance
Tyler
try Chloe
I decide to try her one more time before resorting to her best friend. Although if I was M.I.A., I’m sure Tyler would be the first person most people would reach out to as well.
10:34 am to Annika
Reid
Hey, I just want to see how you are doing?
please text me
message unread
11:26 am to Chloe
Reid
Is Annika there?
message unread
Nothing, silence. Both of them are ghosting me.
I feel like I’m the one who should be doing the ghosting, but no, I want to make things better.
Not the time to nitpick, but I’m frustrated.
I want to talk this out, and I’m being ignored.
I know it is a sucky situation, but I can’t let it go.
Maybe I should give her space, but I don’t want to lose her.
I can’t lose her. Especially since I need to tell her that I should’ve kissed her back.
That’s it. I’m driving over there.
I see Chloe’s sedan parked around the corner, but Annika’s car isn’t in her usual spot. I’m hoping she is parked somewhere else. Except I saw her car in front of the house when I dropped her off last night. So, she’s not home. Where did she go?
I jog to the porch and bang on the front door.
“Hey, don’t break down the door. I’m right here.” I push through the door as Chloe opens it, and Dandy starts circling my feet. The cat can’t help but be so cute even when I am frustrated. I pick her up and give her head some scratches, which seem to calm me down a smidge.
“Is Anni here? I’ve been texting and calling, but she hasn’t answered.”
“Reid, she needs time. She feels, well, she feels like shit and is embarrassed as hell.”
“I know. I just need to talk to her.”
“What are you going to say? How are you going to fix things after that?”
“I can’t let her be alone after her making a move and me just leaving her hanging. That’s not fair to her. I was surprised, obviously, but I know now.”
“Oh, you know now? Not four years ago when you guys matched, and you could have tried again?” Chloe steps closer to me, pointing her finger at me.
“You weren’t there to pick her up off the street.
” She has tears welling in her eyes as she lays into me.
I let her because I feel like I deserve this.
“I found her against a wall, sobbing into her knees.” Chloe’s volume startles Dandy, who jumps out of my arms. “You weren’t there for her after the worst night of her life.
I was! She keeps trying, and it doesn’t work with you.
You expect her to be okay after this time too?
I honestly don’t know if she will be okay, but it won’t take twelve hours, that’s for fucking sure, Parker. ”
I’m fighting my own tears, clenching my jaw, guilt pouring over me. “Where is she, Chloe?”
“I don’t know. She wanted to be by herself.”
“That’s bullshit, Chloe. You two know when each other’s next dentist appointment is.”
“Why Reid? Why should I tell you?”
“Because every time I go to reach out to her, she’s already falling. She’s slipping out of my fingers, and I can’t grab her fast enough. I’m not letting the girl of my dreams, of every waking moment of my life, slip away again.”
I rub my hands over my face, and I feel like I’m going to start crying again. This is the most I’ve cried in a while. All over this girl.
“Chloe, please, I just need one more chance.”
Chloe pulls her phone out of her pocket and types something on the screen before I feel my phone buzz in my pocket.
“I sent you where she’s at. I swear to god, Reid, that’s it. If you hurt her again, I will hurt you.”
I don’t even take a second to respond. I’m out of the house and in my truck. It’s going to be a long drive to catch her, and I can only hope she’s still there. This crazy girl is driving three hours just to breathe.