Page 99 of The 21-Day Boyfriend
“I knew you’d get along. But you never listen to me.” He looks at Mila. “He never listens to me,” he says to her.
My sister looks at me. “You never listen to him.”
“Are you two finished? Since when have you been such a united front?”
“Since forever, when it comes to you,” Jake responds.
I go back into the living room and let myself fall heavily onto the sofa.
“He’s already knackered,” Mila says to Jake.
I try to ignore them, but they both come to sit on either side of me on the sofa, like an angel and a devil on my shoulders. It’s just a shame that neither of them are the angel.
“Completely,” Jake agrees with her.
These two only know how to make things worse. All either of them does is wreck things; so when they’re together, and focused on me…
“Have you told him?” Jake asks.
I look at him.
“Have you told him you like him?”
“You know there’s no need for that,” Mila answers for me. “There are some things you can’t hide.”
“True,” Jake agrees. “You’re fucked, then.”
“Can you please…” Someone knocks at the door before I can politely tell them both where to shove it.
I get up from the sofa and check the time. “He can’t be here already,” I say, heading over to the door. When I open it, I find Eric standing there, with those same eyes as before, and a smile which saysif I get you, I’ll never let you go. I realise the door isn’t the only thing I’ve opened; I’ve opened my entire heart to someone who doesn’t want to keep it.
“I got off early.” He lifts a takeout box. “Strawberry cheesecake and white chocolate cheesecake, as requested.”
This is going to hurt, I know. I have no doubt about it.
What I’m wondering is whether it will all be worth it.
“Can I come in?” he asks, realising that I’m standing, frozen in the doorway, held hostage by my own thoughts.
“Of course.” I step aside, and he walks into my apartment before turning back to me.
“This will sound stupid, and maybe out of line.”
“What?”
Eric smiles nervously. “I just… I wanted to come back here.”
It’s worth it. All the pain, I mean. It’s worth every second.
It just means I’ll have to take stock of all the damaged pieces of my heart later on.
“I’m glad you did.”
He smiles again, his face tired. I want to kiss it until tomorrow of the first day of next year, without even taking a breath.
“Cheesecake, then?” He lifts the box again.
“I love dessert.”
