slipped and he shoved a hand into his hair. “Yeah. I think. Most of it.”
“Well,” I continued in what he had dubbed my I’m-going-to-kill-you whisper. “When you have something worthwhile to say about that whole debacle, you let me know.”
“Libby,” he begged.
“Seriously,” I said while brandishing a finger at him. “I want you to think before you speak to me again.”
“I’m leaving town today.”
“I know, Sean,” I said, my frustration leaking through. “Randy gave me the schedule so that I could make sure you follow it.” I walked toward the bathroom where I had left my dress hanging over the shower door. “I should start charging them an hourly rate for keeping you in line.” I turned in the bathroom doorway to lance him with a glare. “Maybe then I could finally pay off my student loans.” I slammed the bathroom door and quickly changed out of his clothes and back into my dress. I’d spent an entire day looking for this dress. I’d been looking forward to my date with Jonas for a week and a half. And now he probably wouldn’t speak to me again.
I left Sean’s clothes on the floor, which was once again spiteful and pointless. No doubt a maid would pick them up for him. Then I realized he’d have to leave before a maid could come through, and I allowed myself a smug smile.
When I opened the door, he was blocking the way, his hands leaning on either side of the doorframe. “So let me hire you.”
I rolled my eyes and ducked under his arm. “Not interested. I’m already tearing my hair out having to deal with you once in a while. How quickly do you think it would kill me to watch you self-destruct all the time?”
“I don’t do that all the time,” he defended himself.
“Could have fooled me,” I said to the room at large as I looked for my purse. I found it under one of the couch pillows. I pulled out my phone and ordered an Uber.
“Maybe if you came around more often, you’d see me when I’m actually in a good place instead of only showing up when Randy begs you.”
“That’s funny. I must have missed all the invitations you sent my way.” It was true that I didn’t come around much anymore. Call it self-preservation. I used to be there with him all the time, every step of the way. I had let his life consume mine for quite a while, until I realized that while he was soaring, I was going nowhere. I’d had to pull back. I had to focus on school, then I had to get a job and my own place and live my own life. Even then, I had seen him constantly. But then the drinking started and it had escalated so quickly. I did what I could to keep him away from it, but unless I’d been willing to babysit him constantly, there was no changing it. Watching him implode had sent me into survival mode, separating myself from him even more, but always willing to come running if he called. That’s the position I’d been stuck in ever since.
“You shouldn’t need an invitation!” he shouted at me. “You’re my best friend!”
I turned to look at him, the sight of his bed head reminding me so much of our days in his basement, working out lyrics as he ran his hands through his hair in deep thought. The lump in my throat reappeared. I walked over to him and lifted on my toes so I could wrap him in a hug. His response was strong and immediate, just like always. “You know,” I said as my chin rested on his shoulder, “that street goes both ways. When’s the last time you came around my place?” I let go and turned away, picking up my shoes on my way to the doors.
I went into the tiny lobby and pushed the elevator button, standing there until it dinged and the doors opened.
“I really am sorry, Libby. For all of it.”
I turned back, holding the elevator open. “Will you do me a favor?”
He gave me a heavy-eyed half smile from where he leaned in his doorway. “Anything for my Libby.”
“Just—” I wanted to ask him not to drink anymore. Or not to drink for a month. But I couldn’t ask that. Because he would promise it, and then he’d break his promise and I didn’t know if I could take that. So instead I said,