interviewing potential new roommates tomorrow. Please let me know when you want to come pick up your stuff so I can make plans to not be around." I pressed send.
I needed a fresh start. In a lot of ways Rory was amazing. I couldn't deny that. But he wasn't my future. It was like he said. I wanted to be happy in the future. That was the ultimate goal. I didn't want to be constantly worried that I wasn't good enough for him or that he was out hooking up with someone else. And the worst part was, he knew how it felt to be on the other side of this. His ex had cheated on him. Why would he do this to me?
My phone started buzzing. It was Rory. I just stared down at the screen. I didn't have anything to say to him. When it finally stopped buzzing I slowly exhaled. A minute later my phone beeped. He had left a voicemail.
"Keira." There was a pause. "Screw the restaurant then. Let's just go somewhere. Let's take a vacation. Just you and me. Wherever you want. I'll take you wherever you want to go. Let's go to Italy. You'll love it there." He sighed. "Please call me back."
What? I lay down on my bed. What is he doing? I didn't want to go to Italy with him. He'd probably see one beautiful girl with long black hair and tan skin and run off with her. Stupid Italy.
I tried to call Emily again, but it went straight to her voicemail this time. I stared at the ceiling. My life had seemed so full this morning. And now I had never felt more alone. I hadn't just lost Rory. Connor and Jackson had basically been living here too. They had become two of my closest friends. Connor had somehow become one of my closest confidants.
I picked up my phone and found Julie's number. If I couldn't fix my own relationship, maybe I could fix things for Connor. It was the least I could do after he had tried so hard to help me.
The phone rang
"Hi, Keira." Her voice sounded slightly cold.
Deservedly. "Hey, Julie!" I said with as much cheer as I could muster. "Connor told me how much fun he had with you the other night."
Julie laughed. "Yeah, I don't think so, Keira. He hasn't even texted me."
"He told me that he really likes you."
"Was that after he ran after you and left me alone in your apartment?"
"Um...yes."
"I don't really know what you're trying to do, Keira. Clearly he likes you. Why'd you even set us up in the first place?"
I laughed. "Likes me? Julie. Psh. I'm dating Connor's best friend. Connor and I have just become really good friends in the process."
"Really?"
"Yeah. He's such a sweetheart. He knew that I was upset and came running after me. He's just a really good friend."
"Oh."
"Look, Julie, he's super embarrassed, that's the only reason he hasn't texted you. He's so caring. If you give him another chance, you won't regret it. You'd be lucky to have him in your life."
"Are you sure there's nothing between you two?"
It didn't seem like I was ever going to see Connor again. So it didn't matter at all that we had hooked up that one time. Fixing things with Julie would be my goodbye present to him. "There's absolutely nothing going on between us. I really think you two would make an amazing couple."
Julie sighed. "So you think I should just text him? I really did have a good time."
"I think you should definitely text him."
"You know, I actually haven't been able to stop thinking about him. I just assumed that he didn't have a good time."
"Trust me, he did."
"Geez, Keira. Okay. I guess I'll text him."
I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Thank you so much for clearing that up."
"Of course. It was just such a crazy misunderstanding."
Julie laughed. "Maybe the four of us could go on a double date sometime?"
"Yeah, that would be fun." I didn't want to talk about this with Julie. I just wanted her to give Connor another shot. Apparently I was a good matchmaker. I could just never find anyone for myself.
"Okay, I'll text him now. Thanks, Keira!"
"Bye, Julie." When I hung up I looked down at my screen. Emily still seemed to be screening my calls. Goodbye, Connor. Goodbye, Jackson. Goodbye, Rory. I had never felt so alone.
Chapter 37
Only one person had responded to my ad on Craigslist. Her name