them. She doesn’t want to leave you.”
That’s exactly what Kelsey said to me at the reception, but I didn’t want to believe her. I was too mad, too hurt. Spinning over finding out what she kept from me. I’ve been deceived before—in the worst possible way—and I couldn’t see or think straight.
So I pushed the one bright and perfect thing in my life away.
“When did you talk to her?” I ask.
Ali’s expression turns a little shady, the sneak. “Um, she might’ve invited me to have brunch with her friends today.”
“When did she invite you?” I ask incredulously. And when did they become so close? I love it. Ali has seemed a little lost lately, and I appreciate Kelsey taking her under her wing and introducing her to her friend group, but that moved sort of fast…
Is there anything wrong with moving fast? I suppose not. Look at how we went from zero to friendship to having sex regularly and fooling ourselves into thinking it was something casual.
It was never casual between us. Our friendship was instant. Our respect for each other grew. I enjoyed spending time with her and I think she felt the same about me. The next thing I knew, we were in a full-blown relationship, though we tried to call it something else.
Now here I sit, afraid I might’ve lost it forever.
“We were talking a few days ago, and she invited me to go to brunch. Of course I said yes. I need new friends, and Kelsey is so great. I really like her. A lot. Her friends are pretty great too.” Ali tilts her head, sending me a long look. “You need to talk to her, Theo. She misses you so much, and she hates that you’re mad at her. She wants to fix it.”
“I’m not mad at her anymore. I’m just—” I exhale loudly and stare up at the ceiling for a moment before I return my gaze to Ali’s. “Frustrated by how I acted toward her. I shouldn’t have become so angry. I’ve given it some thought, and she was right. She never got a chance to tell me about her job offers. It’s been so hectic with that stupid wedding this weekend.” Thank God it’s over.
“You should go to her and tell her how you feel,” Ali says.
“See, here’s the thing.” I make a face, embarrassed to admit this. “I don’t know where she lives.”
“Ha, no one did until today, I hear. It’s okay. I have her address. I’ll text it to you right now.” Her screen says paused, and within seconds, I get a notification with an address in the text. “There you go.”
“I can’t just go to her on a Sunday night.”
“Why not?”
“What if she’s already in bed?” Lamest excuse ever.
“She’ll get out of bed for you. I promise,” Ali says gently. “Go get your girl, big brother. She’s waiting for you. She needs you right now.”
She’s right. My girl needs me right now.
And I need her.
“I’m leaving now,” I tell my sister. “Oh, and Ali?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks. I owe you one.”
“Yeah you do,” she says breezily. “And don’t worry. I’ll collect soon.”
I pull up to Kelsey’s apartment building forty minutes later, glancing around once I park my car into an open slot. The complex has seen better days. The paint is peeling off the building, and it looks a little rundown. All I can think about is how fast can I get Kelsey out of here, and when I get out of my car and slam the door, a dog starts barking incessantly somewhere in the distance.
Great.
She doesn’t live in the best part of town either. Realizing her apartment is on the second floor at least gives me some comfort as I run up the stairs and stop at her door, taking a deep breath for courage before I knock.
No answer. Not even a sound from within.
I knock again, a little louder this time, but still no answer.
Huh.
The door across from Kelsey’s creaks open, and I turn around to find a little old lady standing there, leaning heavily on a cane. Her hair is stark white, and her face is lined with wrinkles. Her brown eyes twinkle when they meet mine, though, and she smiles. I can’t help but smile back.
“Are you Kelsey’s young man?” she asks.
I stand up a little straighter, liking the way that sounds. She reminds me of my own grandmother. “I am. Do you know if she’s home?”
If I’m Kelsey’s boyfriend, you’d think I’d know this, but the