Page 57 of Inevitable Love
“Man, whatever.” It sounds like afuck you.
Irritation rolls through me. To hell with this guy. “And I’m not homesick. I’m just more focused than you.”
“Sure. That’s why you can’t stop picking up your phone, checking it like you’re expecting a message and not seeing one. I hear the stupid sighs you think you hide. Enjoy your mopefest, and don’t wait up, Dad.” He shoves his keys into a pocket and slams the door on his way out.
The bed doesn’t move as I collapse onto it. The floor might be more comfortable than this wooden slab of a mattress. I drop an arm over my face, trying to shut out the light. I don’t feel like studying. I don’t feel like doing anything other than lying here and focusing on my breathing so my mind doesn’t do its weird, trippy thing to the past.
A buzz on the mattress wakes me up. Alice’s name is not the one I was hoping to see, but I scramble to answer before it quits ringing anyway.
“’Lo?” I croak. It sounds like I’ve swallowed gravel and makes me wonder if I’m getting sick.
“Well, hello, stranger. I didn’t expect you to answer.”
“Did you just call to give me shit?” Scrubbing a hand over my face, I try to swipe away the sleep, then flop back into the piece of shit bed.
“No. Actually, I was just worried about you. You disappeared.”
I really should’ve called Alice before now. Leaving without a word was a dick move, but I don’t want to thinkabout how things were when I left. “It was just time. But I’m sorry I left without a goodbye.”
“I’ve talked to Maggie, so I have an idea why you did. But I didn’t want things to go too long without reaching out. I figured I’d give you a few weeks to sort your shit out.” There’s a loaded, uncomfortable pause, and I brace for whatever’s about to come next. “So, are you okay?”
“Yeah.” The lie comes as easily as it ever has.
She starts a lengthy one-sided conversation, catching me up on all things back home, suspiciously avoiding details about the one person I actually want to know about. I don’t want to ask, but I need to know. “How are things at Maggie’s after the reunion?”
There. An innocuous question that will hopefully garner me the information I crave.
“Actually, I’ve moved, so I’m not sure.”
I go from flat on my back to pacing in a heartbeat. “What? Where? Why?”Oh fuck. Did Maggie’s fears come true? Did Alice get mad because Maggie and I had a fling? Is that why she moved out? Oh god, this makes it so much worse.
“Jesus.” Alice drawls the word out. “I figured this was the problem. You’ve got it bad for her, don’t you?”
“What the hell are you talking about? I asked about how things are doing at the bakery, and you jump to conclusions?”
My phone rings, showing Alice wants to switch to video call. I join the call, dreading facing my sister, knowing she will see too much, but also understanding that if I decline, she’ll keep harassing me. We made a pact after everything we went through with Harmony that we’d not shy away or shut each other out again. And I’ve been shutting her out since before I left.
“You look like shit, brother. Also, thanks for answering. This is a conversation better had where we can see eye to eye. Anyway, what I wanted to say is, I caught the two of you together, and then before we even have a chance to talk about it, you disappear. I figured you were running away from something. Probably me. But I’ll tell you what I told her. If the two of you wanted to be together, I wish you would’ve just said something.” Her voice quivers the slightest bit, and she pauses, pinching her lips together. After a beat, she inhales and continues, “I know things got rough after she-who-shall-not-be-named. But you and Maggie are perfect for each other. I would’ve given you my blessing.”
I can’t look at my sister. I don’t deserve this level of acceptance from her and can’t stand to see the emotion written all over her face. Seeking any means of avoiding eye contact, I go to the kitchen and prop the phone up so I can at least step off camera under the guise of grabbing a glass of water.
“Okay, no response. Fine. Next topic.” At least her voice finally has her normal snark in it.
“Jesus, I just woke up, and I’m getting a drink.” When it feels like I’ve stalled as long as possible, I grab the phone and take it to the uncomfortable sitting chair I’ve claimed. “Okay, next topic.”
“I was calling to tell you I moved. To Atlanta. With my girlfriend.”
“What about Maggie?”
“What about her?”
“You just left her behind? Alone?”
“Well, considering she’s not gay and we aren’t looking for a third, we didn’t think she’d want to up and leave everything behind.” Her tone quiets, and she avoids looking atme. “Plus, Stella and I were having a moment, but then she decided to move to Georgia. With me.”
Finally, what she’s saying registers. But she can wait for my real response because Alice is acting like this is some kind of huge deal, and she’s been giving me shit the entirety of this phone call, so a little payback is due. “Okay.”
“What do you meanokay?”
