Page 78 of Don't Let Me Go
“And those circumstances are Riley?”
“Yeah,” I answer honestly. “I think so.”
“Well?.?.?.?congratulations!” Micaela exclaims with a baffled laugh. “I did not see this coming. But, hey, if Riley makes you happy—”
“He does.”
“Then I’m happy for you,” she concludes with a decisive nod. And despite the lingering look of surprise in her big brown eyes, I know she means it. After all, we were friends long before we started dating, and we’ll be friends long after.
“So give me all the details,” she says, practically bouncing in excitement. “How long have you guys been together?”
“Oh, we—we’re not together,” I stammer.
“You’re not?”
“I haven’t exactly told him how I feel.”
Micaela throws her arms up in the air in exasperation. “Why the heck not?”
“I was gonna. Today. Over breakfast. But then—”
Micaela gasps and covers her mouth with her hands. “But then I showed up.That’swhy you looked so freaked out when you saw me in your driveway. I thought you were just surprised to see me, but no, you were bringing Riley over to tell him how you feel, and I totally cockblocked you!”
“It’s okay.”
Micaela shakes her head. “No, babe, it’s not okay. Because now your boy is off with another man.”
“Oh. No. That’s just Alex. He’s not—I’m not worried about him,” I explain, even though only a few minutes ago I was panicking at the idea of the two of them together. “He’s Riley’s ex.”
Micaela glares at me like I’m too dumb to come in out of a thunderstorm. With an exasperated sigh, she grabs her purse, hops off the bench, and starts to power-walk back toward her car.
“What are you doing?” I ask as I chase after her.
“I’m giving you your birthday present a day early. I’m leaving.”
“What? No. You can’t go. You just got here!”
Micaela stops and claps back at me. “Jackson, your boy is off with hisex.”
“So? That doesn’t mean anything. I’m here with you.”
“Yeah, and if things had gone differently, I might totally have hooked up with you.”
I blink in confusion. “But you said you didn’t want to get back together.”
“Idon’t.But that doesn’t mean I don’t miss your dick.”
“Oh.” The certainty I’d had about nothing happening between Riley and Alex evaporates, leaving behind a suffocating sense of dread.
Micaela shoots me a sympathetic smile, then stands on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “Sorry to be crass, babe. I’m just laying down facts. Now stop being an emotional fuckwit, and go get your man.”
Chapter 32
Riley
“How’s college?” I ask Alex, wondering how much small talk two people can make before one of them goes insane.
The park overlooking the amphitheater is busier than usual. Some people are hurrying to score seats on the extremely limited benches while others are laying out picnic blankets on the surrounding lawn, but Alex and I have managed to find a somewhat secluded spot behind a cluster of palm trees where we can talk in private. Not that we’ve said much in the past ten minutes that’s worth overhearing.
