Page 128 of Outside The Wire

I dunked my Oreo in the milk and stuck it in my mouth, chewing on it as I dunked the next one. I loved this movie so much. I just never thought there would be any resemblance to my life in it. Before I knew it, a whole line of Oreos was gone and I didn’t feel any better about myself. So, I started on the next line.

“I really should have gotten the double stuffed,” I muttered. “I need a cat or a parrot. At least then, I wouldn’t be talking to myself.”

“You’re not talking to yourself now. I’ll be your friend. I’m Gildy,” I said as if another person was in the room with me.

I rolled my eyes. “Gildy. That’s a terrible name for a friend. I can’t even make up good names for imaginary friends. I suck at being alone!”

I stuffed another Oreo in my mouth and grabbed the next in line. “Maybe I need a British accent,” I mumbled around the next one. “Cheerio. ‘Ello there, Gov’na. Yeah. I could totally pull that off.”

I chuckled to myself and finished off the next line. When there was only one row left, I had the feeling that maybe I should put the cup down and walk away, but some part of me was chanting insideDo it! Do it! Do it!Like it was a challenge to see if I could finish the whole container.

But before I could start the next row, the doorbell rang, and I just knew it was my mother. When I didn’t talk to her on the phone, it was a given that she would show up at my house. I should have just stayed on the phone with her. I shoved to my feet and trudged to the door, yanking it open.

“Hello, Mother.”

She walked right past me with a dish of something that smelled absolutely delicious. I was wrong. This was why I should have stayed on the phone with her. I should have known she would make me comfort food and take care of me. I was such an idiot.

“Look at you. Is that any way to deal with heartbreak?” she asked, leaning over the couch to snatch up my cookies. “Really, Holly. How many of these have you eaten?”

“Only a couple. The package was already open.”

She gave me a disbelieving look. “Then why do you have so much chocolate on your face?”

My eyes widened as I quickly wiped at the corners of my mouth. “I do not!”

“You should really clean up before?—”

The doorbell rang and I stiffened. “Before what?”

She sighed. “Well, I guess it’s too late now.”

“Too late for what? Mother, what did you do?”

“Nothing. I just invited someone over for dinner. After all, I made this lasagna and there’s garlic bread.”

“You didn’t have time to make lasagna,” I said accusingly. “You started this earlier—before I even talked to you!”

The doorbell rang again.

“It’s rude to keep people waiting outside, dear.”

“You invited him over and didn’t tell me? I’m in flannel pajamas!”

“Well, if I had told you, you would have run away or something. I couldn’t take that chance. This is for the best. Even if you do look like a hobo.”

I glared at her as she shooed me toward the door. It didn’t matter what I looked like. Asher and I had seen each other at our worst. Besides, we weren’t really together right now anyway. I had nothing to prove to him.

I swung the door open and nearly died. He looked so amazing. So handsome. So freaking beautiful. And— “I didn’t know you were coming!”

He flinched back as I practically screamed at him.

“I mean, she just sprung this on me. That’s why I’m not dressed.”

“And why you have chocolate in your teeth?” Asher grinned.

I snapped my lips shut and sucked at my teeth, trying to get all the chocolate that I missed. God, this was so embarrassing. But as usual, Asher just took it with a grain of salt and stepped inside, kissing me on the cheek and lingering just a tad longer than he should. My eyes slipped closed and my knees trembled as I inhaled the smell of oil. Even when he cleaned up, it was always there, lingering just a little bit. Others might not like it. I loved it.

“You look beautiful, Holly Bear,” he whispered, brushing a piece of hair back from my face.

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