Page 100 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
Dad turns to my brother, holding out a hand for a shake. “Give me a chance to prove to you that I can be the dad you need.”
Ethan slowly and hesitantly accepts the handshake.
Dad grins. “I’d better pack. I leave in the morning. And expect a call from me tomorrow night.” He leaves the room.
Ethan and I watch him go before we face each another. “You think he’ll stand by his word?” I ask.
“You know something, bro? I think he will.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Katie
I’ve been staring at my phone for at least ten minutes, the words entering my brain over and over again.
Eric: Can we talk?
The answer should be no way. Because I don’t want to have anything to do with him for the rest of my life. Which is a complete lie, of course. Because despite everything he’s put me through, I still…I still like him.
Ugh, what’s wrong with me? How can I still like a guy who treated me so rotten?
Because you know he’s a good guy,the little voice in my head reminds me. You know there’s a reasonable explanation for what he did.
Still I don’t know if my heart could handle any more rejection.
My thumbs hover over the screen. I shut my eyes for a second and type back a response.
Katie: Okay.
Eric. Can we meet at your house?
I don’t know if I can handle being in the same room with him, alone. But no one else is here. Dad is at work, as usual, and Phoenix is at her house with Ethan. I think they’re doing a video together for her channel.
But a part of me does want to be alone with him, because there’s a small chunk of me—okay, a big chunk—that’s hopeful he wants to make things right between us. But I tell myself not to get too hopeful. I won’t be able to bear the disappointment.
Katie: Sure.
Eric: Thanks. Be there in five.
I sit on the couch, wringing my hands together.
It feels like forever until the doorbell rings. But in reality, only four minutes pass. I get up from the couch, yanking in as much oxygen as I can, and open the door. Eric stands there with an uncertain expression on his face. His lips lift a little like he wants to give me a smile but isn’t sure if I’d like that.
I widen the door for him to enter. He sweeps past me, bathing me in his delicious smell. I force the thought out of my head and follow him into the living room, where he slowly sits on the sofa. I take the adjacent recliner.
We sit in silence for a long, long time. The only sound in the room is the ticking of the clock on the wall. I keep my gaze on my lap, not looking at him once. I have no idea if he glances at me.
After what feels like another eternity, he shifts on the sofa and clears his throat. “Thanks for letting me come over.”
I slowly lift my eyes to his and find them pasted on mine. But he yanks them away. “No problem,” I say, noticing how stiff my voice is.
Quiet again.
“So…um…” He shifts in his seat again. “The concert was Friday night.”
“I know,” I say. And I also know what a disaster it was. I saw clips all over the internet and Phoenix told me all about it. “Have you come to accuse me of ruining everything?”
His eyes get so big he looks like a cartoon character. “What? No way. That’s not it at all. I came over to apologize.”
