Page 55 of Faking it with my Off Limits Neighbor

With the blanket draped around my shoulders, I shuffle to the front door and open it a tiny bit.

Milly looks concerned. “Hey, chick,” she says softly. “Can I come in?”

I pull the door wider, hiding behind it so no one else who might happen to be passing by can see the state of me.

“Cute blanket,” she says when I close the door again.

I lead the way into the living room and dump myself back onto the couch. Milly flops down onto an armchair across the room.

“How’ve you been?” She’s trying to keep her tone light, but I can see the concern written all over her face.

“Just peachy,” I reply sarcastically.

“Hm. I can see that. You want to get dressed and go out for a coffee?”

I shake my head. “Not today, Milly. Maybe another time.”

“Another time when your heart isn’t in a billion pieces, and you’re not completely devastated, you mean,” she says knowingly.

“Something like that.”

She doesn’t say anything for a while, and I’m too sullen to keep a conversation going, so the silence hangs in the room for a few minutes. She straightens herself on the chair, then looks at me intently.

“I came around to check on you, but I’m also here for another reason.”

Shocker. She’s here to convince me to give Troy another try. I know my best friend as well as she knows herself.

“Not interested,” I say.

“You haven’t heard what I’m going to say yet.”

“I know what you’re going to say,” I reply confidently.

“Okay. But… can I ask you something? It’s important.”

I sigh, already tired of having to converse. “Sure.”

“I need to know that you remember what your dad said exactly.”

I frown at her. “What do you mean, exactly?”

“Well, you told me that he said he’d told Troy the only way he could be with you was if he changed. He said that Troy didn’t even try and fight for you. That he just left. Is that exactly what your dad said?”

I’m now curious as to why Milly is asking, and I nod. “That’s what he said exactly.”

Milly continues to look at me. “Right. It’s just… that’s not what happened.”

“What?”

“Mom and Dad had me bring Troy to the house yesterday. He’s in a bad state, and you know, they’re worried.”

“I feel so sorry for him,” I snap sarcastically.

“Remember when I told you in the car the other day that Troy told me what your Dad had said after he left?” she continues, ignoring my derision.

I nod, even though I’m angry that she’s bringing Troy’s pain up when I’m clearly suffering.

“Well, he didn’t mention anything about having a choice back then. When he was at our house yesterday, I asked him again what your dad said. And he repeated the same line as before.”

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