Page 85 of The First Time

“Layla,” Charlotte says as she walks up to me. “Sweetie, are you crying? What’s going on? Did you find him?”

“He left,” I say through thick tears.

“Without telling you?” Asher asks, surprise evident on his face. “What the fuck?”

I wipe my tears away with the back of my hand. “I screwed up. There’s a history there with him and William. I should’ve stepped in. I should’ve said something sooner.”

“You can’t blame yourself for this, Layla. You didn’t do anything wrong. It was just unfortunate timing.” Charlotte rubs my arm soothingly.

I shake my head back and forth. “You guys don’t know all the details. It took a lot for him to be here tonight to tell Mom and Dad. I could’ve handled it better.”

Asher scoffs. “Well, even if that’s true, him just leaving you behind without a word is bullshit. Didn’t he drive you?”

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“I’m gonna kill him.” Asher looks between me and Charlotte. “He’s dead.”

Charlotte rolls her eyes. “Okay, he messed up. But let’s not pretend like you don’t know the guy. He’s not all of a sudden a bad guy. I’m sure he’ll cool off and apologize. Don’t pretend like you haven’t screwed up before.”

Asher huffs at Charlotte’s response, but luckily doesn’t have much to say back. He has screwed up before and can’t deny it.

I mouth a silent thank you in her direction. I’m already in panic mode. I don’t need to worry about Asher beating the shit out of my boyfriend.

“Come on.” Charlotte throws her arm around me. “We’ll drive you home.”

The car ride is silent. My eyes are glued to the phone, waiting for him to call. His silence is deafening, and I hate to be that girl, but I decide to send a text.

Me: I’m sorry. I should’ve said something. I’m not good in those situations. Please call me back. Asher and Charlotteare driving me home right now. Do you want to come over and talk?

By the time we get to my house, there is still no response.

“Do you want us to come in?” Charlotte asks after Asher parks the car.

“No, thanks. I’m just gonna get in my pajamas and relax. Thanks for the ride home.”

As I climb out of the car, I hear Asher mumbling something about Josh being a dead man again. I don’t have the energy to respond, so I close the door.

I lock my front door and head straight for my bedroom. There’s nothing I want more than to get in cozy clothes, hop in my bed, and turn on a comforting show. In moments like these, I need the comfort of a show that I’ve seen a thousand times.

It’s like having your best friends right there with you.

I put on New Girl, but Nick and Schmidt aren’t making me even crack a smile. Nothing at this point is going to make me feel better.

My phone rings, muffled underneath my pillow. I grab it quickly and see Josh’s name.

“Hey,” I answer quickly, trying not to sound too desperate.

“Hi,” he replies faintly.

“Josh, I’m so sorry. I know tonight was a complete disaster.”

He laughs bitterly. “Yeah, you can say that again.”

“Why did you leave me?” I falter in the stillness of the room.

I can just make out the sound of a sigh through the phone. “I’m sorry, Freckles. I shouldn’t have done that. It was a huge mistake, and totally uncalled for.”

“I had to get a ride with Asher and Charlotte.”

---