Page 116 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

I could call up Nolan and see if he wants to get a beer, but not even that sounds appealing. All he’ll do the entire time is look at me with thoseI told you soeyes he’s had trained my way since I moved out, and I’d rather not be reminded of what a mess this has become.

Leo’s shell knocks against the glass of his terrarium, and I roll my head to the side to find him staring at me. He looks just as pitiful as me.

“I know, buddy. I miss her too.”

How has it only been one week when it feels like a year?

I want to see her.

Ineedto see her.

I want to know why she wasn’t there the morning I moved out. Why I woke up to a cold bed and haven’t seen her since. Why she’s been hiding in her apartment avoiding me when that doesn’t sound anything like the promises we made.

I want to know why she didn’t ask me to stay.

Why the hell did I want to stay?

I have to stop thinking about this. Have to stop thinking about her.

We said we’d go back to the way things were before. It was just sex, just relieving some tension.

No attachments.

I need tounattach myself from her.

I push myself up off the couch.

If she wants things to be normal between us, then back to normal they’ll be.

Today is Sunday, and I should be at The Gravy Train getting some cherry pie.

It’s exactly where I intend to be.

* * *

All weekI’ve felt like a bit of a circus sideshow.

Any time I run into someone else in the building, they stare or give me a sad smile, and any time I’ve walked into The Gravy Train, the same thing happens.

Like now.

I guess the news of me moving back into my apartment and River and I no longer spending time together has traveled fast through the busybodies.

I step in line to order my breakfast, Leo tucked safely to my side.

Usually when I bring him here, there are people clambering to see him.

Not today.

It’s like I’m some sort of pariah and I don’t understand why.

I peer around the old diner, and almost everyone who makes eye contact with me quickly looks away.

All right then. Weird.

Then, I see her.

And suddenly I don’t see anything else.

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