Page 14 of Revved up & Ready

No, too passive. I delete it and start over.

I’m not feeling well. I need to take the rest of the day off.

Hopefully, that’ll be enough. I take a deep breath and press send. His response is immediate.

Get some rest! We’ll catch up tomorrow.

That’s it? Why haven’t I been doing this all along? I never use all my sick time.

I grab myTry Itjournal off my desk and search for the correct entry. The little checkered book holds a list I started this past summer. I wasn’t expecting to rebuild my life this year and didn’t know where to start. So, I’ve been compiling a list of things I’ve never done but want to try. Even though I think I’m well past a hundred entries at this point, crossing things off has yet to lose its shine.

Fake being sick to get out of work.

After changing into my comfiest leggings and a cropped sunflower yellow hoodie, I meet Cam in the kitchen, where he already has the blender going. I snag the tequila from the counter, pour myself a shot, and throw it back.

His laughter carries over the blender’s whir until he presses the button to stop it.

“I’m not usually a mid-day drinker, but today is,” I search for the right phrase and land on, “Especially fucked.”

“Oof, sorry.” His smile drops into a grimace.

“Oh, my word.” I rush to apologize, making sure his green-blue gaze meets mine. “It’s not because of you. That probably sounded horrible. I’m sorry. The special fuckery has nothingto do with you. I’m really happy about this.” I wave my hand between us, indicatingthis.

He smiles—over it immediately—and pours us each a margarita. Holding his glass up to mine, he says, “To thoselater timesyou mentioned.”

I snort, tapping my glass to his. “Later times.”

We’ve just barely settled onto the couch with our drinks when my phone buzzes with a notification.

Hanna: Hey, heard you’re sick. I hope you’re okay.

Before I figured everything out, I liked her. But she acted like my friend all that time, andshe knew. It’s a bit of insult to injury that she’s reaching out right now, trying to act like she cares about me.

“So,” Cam’s voice breaks me out of my thoughts. He’s leaning back on the couch with one leanly muscled, tattooed arm folded behind his head, watching me. “Are we gonna talk about what’s happening on your phone that’s making you look so murder-y?”

“Murder-y?” I ask.

“I’m surprised your eyes didn’t burn a hole in that thing.” He points to my phone. “Something’s got you fucked up. You want to talk about it?”

Ishouldtalk to someone about this—should call one of my friends.

Allie would curse Jared, his new fiancée Kelee, Hanna, and everyone they’ve ever known. Devon would remind me that he was never good enough for me in the first place and not to waste my tears. And our friend Bea would probably make a point to validate each one of my feelings.I have no idea what will make me feel better, but none of that sounds right.

My eyes focus on my new roommate.He’s my friend, too.

“It’s kind of shallow, the thing I’m upset about,” I say.

“I love shallow,” he says, sipping his margarita.

Here goes nothing.“You know how I was in a relationship for a really long time?” I ask.

Cam nods, blue-green eyes focused heavily on me.

“And I finally left because he cheated on me?”

His brows shoot up. “Didn’t realize that part. What an idiot.”

“Yeah, what an idiot,” I agree, realizing that might be the only insult I haven’t mentally applied to my ex yet. “Thatidiotjust got engaged to the girl he was cheating on me with.” I hide my face by taking a big sip of my drink as soon as the words are out.

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