Page 105 of Fair Play
Then I’m going to meet with Ms. Barrowman again.
I don’t have a plan yet but I’m buzzing with ideas.
And hope.
Chapter 40
Billie
With the endof the semester just a few days away, I turn in my final project, meet with my advisor to discuss my portfolio, and all that’s left is graduation. I’ve been thinking about skipping the actual ceremony. I mean, what’s the point? I don’t want to see Bodi, Rome isn’t in my life, and though Nita, Athena, and even Mrs. Castellano say they want to attend, I don’t feel like celebrating.
My advisor thinks I should go ahead and finish my master’s since I got dual credit this year, but I don’t know if I want to take on that much debt for something I don’t know that I’ll need. It’s great in theory, which is why I agreed to transfer my senior year, but now I’m ambivalent about it.
Okay, let’s be clear: I’m ambivalent about pretty much everything at the moment.
I go through the motions every day, but my world has been reduced to work, work, and more work. I started apartment hunting, but Nita told me to take a little time to let everythingsettle down. Neither of us are home much beyond sleeping and showering, and she swears I’m not a burden or an imposition, so now I’m trying to pick up the pieces of my shattered existence.
The more pressing matter for me is buying a car because I refuse to continue driving the one Rome let me borrow. Nita said she would co-sign a loan for me so I need to start looking immediately. But cars are expensive. And though I make great money at the diner, I don’t have a lot saved up yet. I can either put money down on a car or I can get an apartment, but it’ll be at least three or four more months before I can do both.
And I’m not taking another dime from Bodi unless I’m dying.
The diner is packed tonight, so I don’t have time to dwell on any of that, and I’ve just gotten a party of six when I see a familiar blond head standing at the hostess station.
Ugh.
Bodi.
And Blake.
Just what I need.
“I’m busy,” I whisper to the harried hostess as she comes toward me. “Tell them to go away.”
She grimaces. “He just gave me a hundred dollars to hand this to you.” She puts a folded piece of paper in my hand.
Oh, geez.
I skate over to the soda station and slowly open it.
There are only two words on it:I’m sorry.
To my knowledge, Bodi has never apologized in his life. Certainly not to me.
And of course, tears sting my eyes.
Stupid jerk.
He makes me so mad—seething mad sometimes—but I still love him.
An apology is a big deal for him, so I stuff the note in my pocket, deliver drinks to my table, and then slowly make my way to the front of the restaurant.
“I’m really busy,” I say by way of greeting.
“I know. I just…” He stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I needed to see you. Make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“Can I sit at the bar until you’re done? We need to talk.”
