Page 81 of We Can't Be Friends

Much better. I like her shirts. I love seeing which one she puts on each night; it’s like a game. And if we miss each other, in the morning or when she traveled on Tuesday and Wednesday night and sent me a mirror selfie with them.

Thursday’s was my favorite. Underwater seascape that said: Hot girls love sharks.

But this outfit. . .

Dark denim jeans that hug her athletic curves. The pants are tucked into a pair of knee-high leather boots, giving her an extra three inches and making her legs appear longer. Leaner. A ribbed black long-sleeve turtle neck is tucked into her jeans, covering all her tattoos except her fingers.

Her hair is no longer in its low bun, now pulled back into a tight high bun. Face is clean, no makeup—she doesn’t wear it often, except for her signature red lipstick.

There’s nothing special about the outfit except that she makes it special. Spectacular.

She’s perfection. An absolute beauty.

I flick my eyes to Miller, catching him rolling his. Their similar appearance stretches to expressions. That eye roll was a mirror to her’s.

“Yes. Now, are you ready? I’m hungry and want to enjoy my day off.”

Chloe mocks him as she follows after him down the hall. Before leaving, she swings back to the kitchen and slips on a long black coat.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” I ask her.

“I like the outfit, too.” She spins around with a wink. From down the hall, she shouts, “Bye, Calvin.”

“I thought it was Callum,” I hear Miller say as the front door opens.

“I know.” Chloe laughs, and the door shuts.

Miller might be right. I might regret Chloe living here, but not for the reasons he’s thinking.

What even is the definition of a regret?

23

CHLOE

“No Riley this weekend?”

“He’s with Sara.”

“Oh?”

Riley’s mom, Sara, isn’t exactly in the picture. It’s more of when she selects to be in the picture.

Miller and Sara got pregnant during the summer going into their senior year of college. They had been dating for six months, and at the time, Miller had already signed with Boston. Sara was unsure if she wanted to keep the baby; they even debated putting him up for adoption. At the start of the third trimester, she changed her mind and decided they should keep the baby and be a family.

That lasted until Riley was two.

Sara didn’t like that the spotlight was on Miller—personally, I think (know) she was jealous that it was him and not her. Everyone knew his name and wanted his attention, and the cherry on top was being named center of the year.

Sara couldn’t handle accepting that Miller’s time wasn’t his own during the season. She hated the stretches of away games, practice and therapy, press and charity events. Besides her jealousy, being left with the responsibility of Riley drove her wild.

Miller was on the road for a week. Day three, Sara called up our parents and dropped Riley off. When Miller returned, she was gone.

She left him and their two-year-old son.

I hated what she did. Made my dislike of her evolve to despise.Everyone always leaves.

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