was only contacting you because of the article.” His voice softens. “I’ve been under a lot of stress too.”
Guilt takes away the rest of my annoyance. I’ve been neglecting my friends since before I started dating Troy. It all began when I moved in with him. “Why are you under a lot of stress?”
He pushes his dark hair back, mussing it a little. “I’ve applied to a bunch of internships, and so far, I was only called to one interview, and I don’t even know if I did well or not.”
“I’m sure you aced it.”
He shakes his head. “I doubt it. It was last week, and I haven’t received a call back asking to come in for a second interview. I’m pretty sure I blew it.”
“Where was the internship at?”
“Matrix Media Group.”
That’s one of the biggest media companies in the country. I’m not surprised Blake managed to snag an interview. He’s extremely talented and qualified.
“Wow, that’s amazing, Blake.”
“It would be amazing if I got the internship. I hate being in this limbo.” He dips his chin, threading his fingers through his hair.
“They will call you back, and if they don’t, fuck them.”
“Fuck them?” He chuckles. “It’s my dream company.”
“So?” I shrug. “If they can’t see what an amazing asset you would be to them, then they don’t deserve you.”
With a smile still on his lips, he glances at his laptop screen. “Only you could make me laugh in my current state.”
I lift my cup of coffee in a salute. “Well, at least I’m still good at something. I can’t promise I remember how to write though.”
Blake’s expression becomes serious again. “Writer’s block?”
“If only that were the case.”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s my parents. I think they’re going to get a divorce.”
Blake glances at me again, his eyes as round as saucers. “Shit, Charlie. I’m so sorry. What happened?”
There’s a burning in my eyes and a knot in my throat that I try to swallow. Speaking about my family issues with Blake might not be the best idea. Troy never broaches the subject, and I’m grateful he doesn’t. But with Blake, it’s a different story. He’s almost part of the family, so of course he wants to know what the problem is.
“I don’t know. My mother has been complaining he’s working too hard, coming home late, and even working on weekends. She accused him of cheating. I think the situation has reached the boiling point.” My vision becomes blurry; the threat of a tear spill is very real. But I can’t stop now. I have to tell Blake everything. “My father has moved out of the house. I don’t know if he’ll come back.”
A sob escapes my lips just as hot moisture rolls down my cheeks, the first set of tears finally breaking free. I cover my face with my hands, ashamed that I couldn’t hold it together in front of Blake. I hate crying in public; it doesn’t matter that Blake is my oldest friend and he’s seen me at my worst.
I hear the scrape of his chair and then sense his approach. He swivels my seat, then lifts my hands off my face.
“You don’t need to hide your sorrow from me, Charlie.”
He pulls me up, making me stand so we’re almost at the same eye level. I still have to crane my neck a little to stare into his eyes since he’s a head taller than me.
“You know I hate crying. I feel so pathetic.”
He wipes my cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. “You’re not pathetic. This whole situation sucks. It’s okay to be sad. I wish you had confided in me sooner. I wouldn’t have bothered you about a stupid deadline.”
“I was in avoidance mode. If I didn’t talk about it, didn’t think about it, then I could pretend nothing was going on.”
“That’s just plain stupid.”
I hit his chest playfully. “I’m not stupid.”
“I know. But you sure act like it sometimes.”
I narrow my eyes. “I thought you were supposed to be consoling me, not making me feel worse.”
“You know me. That’s how I roll, babe.”
He chuckles, and I can’t help it, I laugh too.
Then I hug him, pressing the side of my face against his chest. I can’t remember the last time Blake and I had a moment like this. I guess since we broke up. That decision was mutual, and there were no lingering romantic feelings on either side. But I think we never wanted to cross the line and give the impression of the contrary. His hand