7. Jasmine
Chapter seven
Jasmine
“Hey.” I walk into the living room, where Riley is watching an animal documentary. He drags his gaze from the TV with a frown. “What?”
“Have you heard from Alec recently?” I ask. “I lent him a book the last time he was here, and I’m trying to get it back, but I can’t reach him.” I swallow, hoping my brother doesn’t see through my lie.
Riley’s frown deepens. “You lent Alec a book?” He echoes. “When was this?”
I roll my eyes. “The day we had lunch. Remember? You got a call from work and had to leave...”
“Yes.” Riley nods. “I’m just surprised he borrowed a book. The idiot doesn’t read shit,” he laughs.
I envy his ability to find humor in this situation because I haven’t laughed in over a week. “Have you heard from him? I’m unable to reach him. ”
“You’re right; I called him last night and couldn’t reach him. He’s probably gone again.” Riley returns his attention to the TV.
My heart tightens, and I grab the back of the couch to keep myself upright. “Gone where?”
Riley grunts, visibly irked that I’m interrupting his show. “I don’t know…” he shrugs. “Sometimes, he disappears. Anytime I can’t reach him, I know he’s gone again.”
“He’s your best friend,” I snap. “How can you not know where he disappears to?”
Riley squints at me. “I didn’t know you were the best friend police,” he says. “He goes on business trips, that’s all I know. Alec is secretive about his business, and I don’t probe because I trust he’s not into shady business. Now, go away.” He refocuses on the TV.
“How long does he go until he returns?” I ask. I know I’m pushing it with Riley, but I’m desperate for an answer. Riley turns to me, his gaze narrowed in suspicion.
“I just really need my book,” I lie.
Riley scoffs. “I don’t know what book this is because you’re not a big reader, either. You’ve been here for weeks, and I haven’t seen you with a book. Can you let me watch my show in peace, please? Damn.”
“You see…” I slide onto the couch beside him. “The truth is the book isn’t mine. It’s Ana’s. I need to know when he’ll be back so I can assure her of when it’ll be returned.”
“If I tell you, will you leave me alone?”
“Yes.” I nod. “My Uber will be here soon anyway.”
“Thank god.” Riley grins. “I honestly don’t know when Alec will be back,” he says, and my heart drops. “Sometimes, his trip takes a few weeks; sometimes, it takes a few months. One time, he was gone for six months…”
Tears spring to my eyes, and I look away from Riley to hide it. Fortunately, he doesn’t notice. “—if this book is important, you better buy another one and make the fucker pay for it when he returns. You probably won’t see him for another year.”
My heart shatters in my chest, and I cannot bring myself to respond, or I’ll burst into a sob. Riley continues to watch his show, oblivious to me falling into darkness beside him. Alec is such an asshole; I cannot believe I fell for his stupid promises and sweet talks.
It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen or heard from him. He hasn’t called me, and anytime I call, his number is unreachable. It’s like he has disappeared from the surface of the earth. I’ve suffered in silence for two weeks before asking Riley, and from what my brother says, this seems normal for him. But how could he do that to me?
How could he take me shopping, splurge over fifteen thousand on me, and then disappear? I’m on the verge of d a breakdown, so I’m heading over to Ana’s because she’s the only one I can vent to.
My phone pings at the arrival of my ride, and I manage to say goodbye to Riley before leaving. Right now, I resent him, too, for meeting Alec and introducing me to him. Our paths should never have crossed.
The closer I get to Ana’s house, the closer I am to the brink of a breakdown. My heart hurts, and it’s almost a physical pain. The car parks in front of Ana’s apartment, and I sort the bill before hurrying towards her door. I had texted her earlier to let her know I was coming, but I didn’t tell her something was wrong. As soon as she opens the door, a painful sob bursts out of me, and I fall into her arms.
Ana gasps and embraces me, pulling me towards the couch gently. “Shh.” She pats my back as I ugly cry. “Everything will be alright.”
“No, it won’t!”
She sighs and pulls me closer, still rubbing my back. “Please, don’t cry; you’ll make me cry, too.”
I know she’s serious, so I try to pull myself together. Ana may act tough, but she’s the biggest crybaby ever. “What’s wrong?” She asks, wiping my tears with her hands. “I hate to see you this way.”
“It’s Alec,” I sniff. “He’s a bastard.”
“Whoa!” She squints her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s gone!” Fresh tears well up again, and I angrily wipe them off. I hate that I’m crying over Alec, but it hurts so much that he didn’t even deem it fit to say goodbye before he left. I feel terrible, and I hate him more for it.
“Gone where?” Ana asks patiently. “Stop crying and talk to me.”
“I don’t know where he’s gone too,” I tell her. “But I haven’t been able to reach him since that day we went shopping. I’ve called him several times, but I can’t reach him.”
“Ask Riley,” she says. “They’re best friends; he’ll know where Alec is. I’m sure he didn’t drop off the earth. ”
“Riley doesn’t know,” I cry. “They’re both bastards!”
Ana sighs heavily. “Shouldn’t you be worried about him? I mean, no one goes AWOL like this.”
“I thought so, too, but Riley says he always does this.” Reliving the conversation with my brother makes me even more upset. “He says Alec takes regular business trips, and it’s impossible to reach him when he’s on a trip. He’ll be back, but maybe in a few months.”
“What?” Ana squeaks. “And he couldn’t tell you this?”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m so hurt.” I sniff. “We spent hours together that day shopping and spending a ridiculous amount of his money, but he couldn’t even tell me he'd be gone. I hate him!”
Ana shakes her head. “I cannot believe this. Alec doesn’t strike me as that type of guy.”
“Yes!” I cry. “He has this air of substance that makes you believe he’s above the mindless cruelty of the average guy, but he’s just the same as them. I never want to see him again.”
“I’m sorry, Jas.” Ana’s eyes are sad. “I’m really sorry. It’s not your fault.”
“When I return home, I’m burning everything he bought me,” I growl. “Every single thing. I don’t want a reminder. I’m so—”
“Hey.” Ana grabs my arms. “Relax. Okay? I say this with love, Jasmine; burning those dresses will be the most stupid thing to do.”
“They’re just a reminder of him!”
“For now,” Ana says. “When you wear it on a date with another guy, it’ll remind you of that guy and not Alec anymore. Please, don't burn them; they cost fifteen thousand dollars.”
“I don’t care about the money. It’s not about the money.”
“You’ll get over Alec, Jas,” Ana insists. “Trust me.”
And that’s the most painful part. No one, not even Ana, knows the depth of my affection for Alec. This isn’t just a mindless crush; it’s love. I am in love with him, and love doesn’t just go away with ease. It drives you to the point of insanity and messes with your life.
Tears sting my eyes again, and I almost burst into another round of tears. I will not get over Alec anytime soon. It doesn’t matter what I do. There is no getting over him.
“You know what?” Ana slides me across the seat into her arms. “Let’s go to the club. It’s been so long since we did.”
“I’m not in the mood, Ana.”
“I’m not asking. I’m telling you we’re going to the club,” she says. “I’m not going to let you lounge around and cry over a man who is probably looking for the next girl to trick.”
“But why would he do that to me?” Shock and bewilderment still swirl in my belly. “He sounded so genuine; there was no reason for him to lie. Why did he do it?”
Ana slides off the couch, taking me with her. Together, we walk into her room. “We’re not going to ask why. You know, fuck boys don’t need a reason to be who they are. They’re simply assholes and thrive on the challenge. Instead of asking why he did that, you should be speaking to another man.” She pushes me onto the bed and swings her closet open.
“I’m going to find you the skimpiest, sluttiest outfit for tonight,” she says.
“Ana!”
“What?” She rolls her eyes, sifting through her wardrobe with a serious expression. “It’s up to me to ensure you do not fall into the abyss mourning the loss of Alec. You know what they say, the best way to give over one man is to get under another.”
This makes me laugh despite the ache in my chest. I don’t plan to have sex with a random man from the club tonight, but I can definitely try to unwind and meet more people.
“Okay, fine. Maybe you’re right.”
Ana slides me a glance. “I’m always right.”
“That’s a stretch, Ana.”
“Shut up.” She throws me a dress. “Put this on.”