of what’s on my phone gives me chills. I know I have to face the music.
Tomorrow.
That’s a word that can either thrill or conjure up nightmares for some.
What will it bring for me?
Where will it lead?
And the question I’m most frightened of all is…
How will I handle seeing the man who broke my heart?
4
As the evening progresses, I find myself actually enjoying myself for the first time since the whole saga happened. I eat my meal since both Jessie and Michael say they won’t leave until I eat everything on my plate, so I dutifully do as they demand. The cocktails are great, and by the time I’m on the cosmopolitan, I’m in ‘happy drunk land,’ and giggling like a schoolgirl—which Michael finds highly amusing.
“You know, you really are rather adorable when you giggle.”
I grab Michael’s cheek and squeeze it. “And you, Mr. Miller, are so cute.” I let go of his face and see him visibly blushing, which surprises the hell out of me. I never thought Michael to be the shy type.
Once paid up, we make our way outside where we wait for the Uber Michael ordered. We say our goodbyes when it arrives, and he promptly promises to contact me tomorrow. Once gone, Jessie loops her arm in mine, and we unsteadily make our way back home.
“Miss Lindsay, I must say you are a bad influence on me.”
She squeezes my arm tighter to her. “I got what I wanted, and that was to see a smile back on your face. I don’t like seeing you hurt. I just want you to know I’m here for you, no matter what.”
Stopping us in our tracks for a moment, I turn to give her a big hug. “I hope you know I feel exactly the same way.”
When I pull back, she wobbles slightly, causing me to prop her up, but then I stumble, and she has to do the same to me. The end result? Two drunk and silly ladies giggling like toddlers who seem like they’re up to no good.
“How are we ever going to get home?” she shouts, both of us huddled over with laughter.
“I tell you what,” I suggest, pointing at her. “If you lean on me … and I lean on you, then neither of us will fall over.”
Jessie puts her thumb up in the air. “That’ll work.”
We begin our walk, her leaning on me, and me on her. Lord knows how we must look to everyone who passes, but we’re too tipsy to really care.
When we get close to the car park outside Jessie’s apartment block, I abruptly stop, almost causing Jessie to stumble again. She eventually catches her balance, and when she does, she looks up to me before glancing in the direction I’m looking in. I see a shadow near a car with an outline very similar to Jake’s.
Please no! I really don’t think I can handle seeing him right now.
Jessie senses my vigilance and squeezes my arm in reassurance. We start to walk again—me sobering up by the second—and as we edge closer, the figure starts to look more and more familiar. It’s only when he turns that I let out the breath I’ve been holding all this time.
It’s not Jake.
“Ana!” Matthew shouts as he runs towards me.
Jessie lets go of my arm as I quicken my pace. We give each other a warm hug as he squeezes his already six-foot frame to me, leaving me gasping for breath.
He immediately lets me go. “Sorry, Ana, I’ve missed you.”
Just hearing those words sets my tears off again.
“Please don’t cry,” he requests soothingly.
I nod my head, trying to compose myself, ferociously attempting to wipe away my tears. I glance towards Jessie who nods her head and makes her excuse to leave, promising to leave the door unlocked for me..
“I’m sorry, Matthew, I’ve not been myself these last few days. I’ve missed you too.” He pulls me out from his embrace and looks down at me.
“You never replied to my calls or text messages. I’ve been going out of my mind wanting to speak with you. My dad’s being a complete jerk, and your mom’s no better. I hope you don’t mind me coming here, but I just needed to get out of there. The atmosphere in the house is … well it’s shit, to be honest. I’m spending most of my time out with friends or studying at Clive’s house just to get away from them both. I’ve really wanted to see you. Why