Between Now and Heartbreak - Dylan Allen Page 0,61

can you give me a second? I need to make a call.”

“I need to check my email anyway. Go ahead.”

I call The Wishbone and make a reservation for two at 7pm that evening.

“Sorry about that.”

“Hot date?” She asks sarcastically.

“Hardly, my sister’s sorority sister is in town, I’m taking her sightseeing and there’s this place – The Wishbone - that got a write up on some big entertainment blog.”

She holds her hands up and shakes her head.

“Say no more. I was just kidding and…I don’t really care.”

At my slow blink, she cringes slightly. “I’m sorry. Was that rude?” She asks.

I squint at her knowingly. “Somehow, I don’t believe you actually care whether it was rude or not.”

There’s not a hint of apology in her bark of laughter.

“I just find being honest saves me a lot of discomfort and time.” She shrugs.

My opinion of her has swung a wide arc today. Now, I think that if Beth only has one friend, I’m glad this is her.

I smile and stand.

“No, not rude at all. Thanks for your help.” I shove my phone and wallet into my pockets.

“Thank me by getting that sample to me fast. And please don’t fuck up and hurt my friend because then, I’ll have to ruin your life.” She smiles sweetly and then turns back to her phone, dismissing me.

24

GOOD VIBES ONLY

BETH

It’s been a week since Carter left my house. And that same amount of time since I slept well. I spent the first two nights staring at my phone waiting for him to call me so I could explain everything.

But he didn’t call.

And, I couldn’t find the nerve to.

Or, the words to say how sorry I am. And that I got scared because my obligations are weighing heavily on me.

I want to tell him that he’s everything to me. That I love that he’s beautiful and talented but at the same time so sensitive he’s sensitive and restless. In the few weeks we’ve spent together, I’ve found the kind of closeness and ease I never dared dream of, but have always wanted.

I couldn’t say any of those things, so I used the time alone to finally start painting the piece I’d been building one sketch at a time. I moved to the studio upstairs and start to paint.

And for the last five days, I’ve barely slept. But I finished the biggest part of it today, and when I was done, I was delirious in the best way.

That euphoria ran out nearly six hours ago. It took with it the mental block I’d put up while I was focused on finishing the painting. And all of the things I hadn’t thought about came flooding in. I’ve spent most of the day on my couch, paralyzed by indecision.

My doorbell rings and I trip over my feet running to answer the door and my heart hammers.

It has to be Carter.

I yank the door open and nearly burst into tears.

It’s Dina. An angry, glaring Dina.

Dina who has been calling me incessantly this afternoon. I turned my phone on silent and ignored her.

I put on an innocent, surprised expression.

“Oh, hi. I didn’t realize you were in town.”

“You wouldn’t have had to realize anything if you’d answered your phone.”

I smooth my hair down and hope she can’t see the food stains on my pants. “I’ve been busy.”

“Busy doing what?” She snaps and before I can answer, she shoves her way past me and walks into the house.

“Hey, where are you going?” I close the door and hurry after her.

She’s standing, her back to me, in the middle of my pig pen of a living room.

“Dina, I told you I’m busy.”

She spins around to face me, her hazel eyes sweep the length of me and she shakes her head in dismay.

“You look like hell. When’s the last time you showered?”

“What are you doing here?” I demand.

She yanks my fridge open and glares at me over the door.

“What are you living on? There’s no food in here.”

“I’ve been eating Ramen. And if you’re not going to tell me why you’re here, I’m going to ignore you.” I snap and press play on my remote. Beethoven fills the air and I close my eyes and take a deep breath and let it sooth my rattled nerves.

The music stops abruptly and my eyes snap open.

Dina is walking around gathering the piles of paper that are strewn everywhere.

I sit on my stool eyeing her dispassionately. She strides back toward me, her eyes moving around the rest of the room.