Page 2 of No One Else

I stare at him. I know what this is really about. I’ve seen him looking at other girls. The times I’ve stopped by his fraternity house unexpectedly and he had glitter on his neck or his frat brothers would delay me from going upstairs for one reason or another. The last time I was over there was an empty condom wrapper in his room, even though we haven’t had sex in... God, I don’t know how long.

“Have at it. We’re done.” I grab my purse and stomp out, our table neighbors’ heads swiveling as far as their necks will let them.

How could I have been so stupid? I told myself those were all coincidences. He could have gotten glitter from anywhere. It’s the herpes of craft materials - once it’s on you you’ll never rid yourself of it. And his frat brothers were just really friendly. And the condom wrapper was probably an old one he found when cleaning out his nightstand drawer. None of it meant anything... until now.

Carter doesn’t follow me out of the restaurant. Even though he drove us here. Even though it’s December and I didn’t bring a coat because I figured I’d only be out of the car for a minute when we walked in and out.

I pull out my phone and bring up my contacts with trembling fingers. They’re only shaking because of the cold. Not because my boyfriend of three years just insulted me and said he’d rather fuck other girls.

I bring the phone up to my ear, praying that my friend Samantha will pick up. She’s got the biggest heart I know. If anyone’s willing to come rescue me in this hell of a shopping plaza, it’s her.

“Hey, babe. What’s up?” Her bubbly voice comes through the line, my knees weakening in relief.

How do I even start this? “I’m so sorry to ask you this, but I need a ride.”

“Of course. What’s wrong?” The kindness in her tone is my undoing. My eyes finally tear up as the enormity of what just happened crashes down on me.

“Carter just- he just- he dumped me at a Red Lobster!” I wail, earning a few concerned looks from people coming into the building.

“That fucker!”

In the background, the deep rumble of her boyfriend asking confusedly, “Who are you talking to?” meets my ears.

“I’ll be there in literally two minutes,” she assures me. “We were at the mall. Levi, turn the car around. We’re going to Red Lobster,” she says, her voice muffled as she speaks to him.

God bless his blind devotion to her because he doesn’t question it. Through the phone speaker, the sound of the blinker clicks. He must be U-turning.

She stays on the line with me until Levi’s Honda Civic pulls up, a blur of tall, blonde woman out in a flash to embrace me in a big hug. Her warmth surrounds me, thawing my heart more than my body, reminding me there’s still good in the world.

I hug her back tightly, surprised at how fiercely I feel toward her right now. She bundles me in next to her in the backseat and I relay the whole fiasco, knowing my secrets are safe with her, one of the most trustworthy people I know, and Levi, who hardly says a word to anyone.

“Okay, Levi. Male perspective time. He totally just wants to bone chicks, right?” she asks, the outrage on her face adorably terrifying.

“Yup.”

“And all this break business? He wants to have his cake and eat it too.”

“Asshole move,” he agrees.

“I think he’s been cheating on me,” I whisper, tears forming in my eyes. “But I didn’t want to admit it to myself. Samantha, why did I keep my head in the sand?”

She wraps her arm around me tighter. “It’s safe there.” I burrow deeper into her side, still chilled. “Did he say he’s been with other girls?” she asks carefully.

I shake my head, wisps of my dark brown hair coming out of my ponytail and falling in my face. “I didn’t press it. In case it’s true.”

“Ugh, I never liked him,” she vows, which I know is the truth, not just something she’s saying after the fact now that we’re broken up. Even though she’s only met him once, she made no bones about expressing her displeasure with him to me. We’d gone on a double date, his disinterest in the outing patently obvious to everyone. Even Levi made an effort, and he despises small talk. “You’re way too good for him. Remember when you told me I was the whole package? Well, that’s you. You could get someone else like that,” she snaps her fingers, “if you wanted to.”

That’s nice of her to say, but I’m not really in the mood for another boyfriend right now.

“Oh, oh!” she squeals, switching gears and flapping her hands excitedly as an idea comes to her. Levi shakes his head from the driver’s seat at her antics. I can just imagine him rolling his eyes good-naturedly. “If he wants to hook up with girls, you should totally do the same. But with guys. Or girls, your choice. Oh, wouldn’t that really piss him off, after he wanted that threesome and you said no?”

A choking noise emanates from the front seat, followed by a soft, “Jesus.”

“What do you think?” she asks, turning to me.

“Uh...” I lower my voice, embarrassed for Levi to overhear. “I’ve only ever been with Carter. I wouldn’t even know how to do that.”

“How about we go to Empire tomorrow night? Scope out your prospects?”

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