Page 46 of Might as Well

CHAPTER 15

VIOLET

The pulsing pain in my head worsens the longer I stare at the empty doorway after Zane left. I’m so fucking confused. He was so angry and apparently I’m a gold-digging whore. As my migraine returns full force, I fall back onto my bed.

Clearly, Zane knows Luke was here, but I don’t understand why he thinks I cheated on him. I was at the restaurant, waiting for Zane to show up after having arrived early when one of the worst migraines I’ve ever had swept over me.

Luukas happened to be there, realized who I was when he checked on me, and offered to take me home. I was going downhill fast and I wasn’t sure I could wait for Zane. Every little sound from the restaurant was a sharp pierce in my skull. At some point, I threw up over the both of us. All I could do once I was in my room was shed my clothes and crawl beneath my sheets. The pill I took at the restaurant worked fast…to knock me out, at least.

How in the world did Zane get that I cheated on him from that? I’m assuming Luke would’ve told him what happened. Is he upset because I abandoned all care in the world and undressed before climbing into bed? I don’t think Luke evenstayed that long. He was in my doorway literally long enough to see me fall into bed.

I try to call Zane, but he doesn’t answer his phone. Needing a second opinion, and support if I’m honest, I call Cassie.

“Hey, Vi. What’s up?”

“Zane walked out on me.”

Silence sucks all the air in the room for a moment before she screeches, “Hewhat?” When I repeat my statement, she says, “Tell me exactly what happened. I’m already on my way.”

I recount the events and by the time Cassie finds me in my room, she crawls into bed next to me with the declaration, “Zane is a dumbass. Sounds like he jumped to assumptions and didn’t care to hear the truth.”

“We just finished moving him in here, Cass. I don’t even know where he’d go unless it was to Sydney’s. I tried calling, but he didn’t answer.”

“Did you try to call Sydney?”

When I shake my head, she urges me to call Sydney. So I do.

“Hey, Violet,” she chirps happily.

“Hey. I, uh, I was wondering if Zane is at your house?”

There’s another freaking pause and her tone softens as she replies, “No, he isn’t. What happened?”

With a sigh, I explain the entire sordid tale all over again. Sydney lets loose a string of curses.

“I’m sorry, Violet. Do you need anything from me other than to tell Zane to get his head out of his ass?”

“Thanks, Sydney, but I’m good. Cassie is hanging out with me. Can you just ask him to call? I don’t want him to be upset with Luke when he was just helping.”

“Oh, don’t you worry. It will be made abundantly clear that Zane is the ass.”

Her support is overwhelming. I didn’t think that by my calling her, she’d choose a side. And never in a million years would I have thought the side she would choose would bemine.

“Why do you believe me?” I can’t help but ask.

“Because I’ve seen you two together. There’s no way you would cheat on Zane. He’s just being a major dumbass. Let me talk to Ian and see if he can figure out where Zane went. Do you want me to update you?”

I hesitated. “I appreciate your support, but you don’t have to do that. Thanks, Sydney.”

“If you need anything,” she starts.

“I’ll call,” I promise. When I hang up and find Cassie smiling at me, I ask, “What?”

“Look at you finally growing up and sharing the weight of the world on your shoulders with someone else. I’m so proud of you.”

I snort. “Yeah, well, I’m tired of being alone because of fear.” But fear snakes up my spine and squeezes. “He’ll come back and ask me to explain, right? He’ll believe me when I tell him the truth?”

“If he doesn’t, his loss, Vi. In the meantime, we’re roomies. How are you feeling?”

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