Eric says leaning back in his seat, “Besides, I want to have a chat with you.”
“About what?” I ask, knowing exactly what he is referring to.
“You know what.” Eric says and shifts in his seat to face me, “Ben was devastated when he left yesterday. I had never seen him so tortured. Don’t think he took off because he doesn’t care about you.” I roll my eyes and put my headphones back in my ears, but he yanks them out, “Seriously Megan, you can be really quick to shut people out.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask narrowing my eyes at him.
“Look at how you are acting right now.” he laughs. I let out an exasperated sigh because I know he is right.
“Well what am I supposed to do? He is the one who took off.” I cross my arms in front of my chest with a pout.
“You are the one that ended things with him. Why would he want to stay?” Eric innocently asks.
“Excuse me? I am far from the heartbreaker here. We should have never crossed that friendship line. Biggest. Mistake. Ever.” I say and let out a much-needed sigh.
“You can’t expect me to believe that.” He laughs, “I had never seen either of you act so love struck as you did on this trip. Besides, I suspected the whole time that something was going on.”
“Oh please” I say rolling my eyes, “You knew shit.”
Eric imitates Ben with a chuckle in his voice: “Oh Megan needs to go back and find her purse…oh I am too tired to come out with you guys…oh Megan let me order your drink.... oh I can’t come for dinner, I promised Megan I would take her turtle watching.”
“We always do stuff together without you guys. That’s nothing new.” I say un-amused.
“Does Ben always shave his balls before he hangs out with you?” Eric says trying not to laugh.
“That’s disgusting!” I shout and punch Eric in the arm, although I do want to share in his laughter, especially when I think how Ben never once had an ounce of hair down there.
“Yeah it was” Eric laughs, “Especially when it was all over the bottom of our shower.”
I roll my eyes, “We were fine being just friends you know.”
“Friends who secretly wanted to bang each other.” Eric chuckles.
“I don’t think so.” I snap back. “He just couldn’t handle that I was the only woman left in the greater Chicago, Illinois area he hadn’t slept with.”
“Oh come on. You can’t expect me to believe that. You are not just some girl to him Megan.”
“Really? Did he tell you that?” I cynically snort.
“What more do you want from him?”
“I want him to stop being such a man-whore and grow the fuck up,” I shout in a hushed whisper. Phew. That felt great to let out.
“Don’t you dare even start with that - you knew his past way before you decided to hop in the sack with him” Eric scolds tapping his foot on the floor.
“Whatever” I wave my hand dismissively “It’s over anyway.” I sigh and slouch in my seat.
“Well I beg to differ.” Eric says crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“Yeah, well you would.” I groan annoyed by this ridiculous brotherhood crap Eric is laying on me right now.
“Well what are you going to do about work? You two practically share the same desk.” He reminds me.
I wince on the inside but coolly shrug on the outside. I had never thought of that little implication before…
“Well I don’t know what to tell you.” I say.
“You are being difficult, you know that right?” He says and I turn red.
“This conversation is over.” I snap and shove my headphones back into my ears.
Eric rolls his eyes and leans back in his seat. I look away from him and stare helplessly out the window. He does raise a good point. What will happen once I get back to Chicago and am forced to see Ben at work? Uggh! I want to be at home in my condo lounging in my flannel pajamas and eating a box of Dad’s Oatmeal cookies properly sulking in my own heartbreak and misery. Because even though I know I should snap out of this funk; right now, I just don’t want to.
Chapter 21
When I wake up the next morning, I am thrilled to be in my own bed. My first instinct is to throw off my sheets, put on a sharp blazer, hop on the subway and head off to work.