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Meg:You guys are wrong. He’s about to propose. I’m sure I’m just being stupid about this girl’s text.
Tessa:Meg, stop defending him!!!! Break it off before he breaks up with you!!!!
Tessa’s use of multiple exclamation points seems excessive.
Brooke:Text us when you find out. I’m invested now.
Zak walks out of his room, and I click the side button on my phone, causing the screen to go black so he doesn’t know I’ve been texting my family. That’s one of his pet peeves. I tell my siblingseverything.
A tight, white t-shirt stretches across his chest, paired with gray athletic shorts. He’s entirely too handsome. Of course a girl like Genessa would want to call him. If I weren’t already in a relationship with him, I’d want to call him too.
“Did you say something?” he asks, rubbing the palm of his hand over his buzz cut. His short hair is new, but I like it. Think Brad Pitt in the movieMr. and Mrs. Smithand you’ll know what I’m dealing with here.
I stand from my spot at the couch, awkwardly bumping into his metal coffee table. I hold his phone out. “You missed a call.”
“Probably from the office.” He reaches for the device. I have the urge to jerk my arm away and go allReal Housewiveson him, but instead, I take a deep breath and hand him the evidence. I shift my weight, anxious for his side of the story so we can forget about the mix-up and get on with our Friday night plans. Sitting next to each other on the couch—me grading papers and him working—has never sounded so good.
“Actually…” I give a fake laugh that probablywouldland me onReal Housewives. “It was from some woman named Genessa. She left you a text. Something about being excited to see you tomorrow.”
Genessa.
What kind of a name is that anyway? I can’t like a person whose parents use the letterGwhen they should’ve used aJ.
Never mind. That’s rude.
Zak looks at me. If there’s a good excuse, he’ll tell me now, and we can turn the television on toThis Is Usand forget about the whole thing.
I wait with bated breath.
But he just tucks the phone into his pocket and walks into the kitchen, opening one of the gray cabinets. The vibe of the kitchen—the entire apartment, really—is industrial chic. The handles on the cupboards are rustic and match the metal barstools and welded pieces of furniture scattered throughout. He pulls out a glass and sets it on the concrete countertop.
My brows make aVas I watch him. The fact that he doesn’t feel a need to explain who Genessa is proves that we’re in a committed relationship, and her call meant nothing.
But I’m not good at pop quizzes or multiple choice tests. When I took the ACT, one of my testing strategies was to guessCwhen I wasn’t sure of the answer. I’ve never felt more unsure in my entire life, so I’m guessingCand freaking out.
“Who is this Genessa girl?” I swing my arms at my side as I walk into the kitchen. The swinging is supposed to help me seem casual, but I’m guessing it’s making me look more like an uncoordinated monkey.
Zak pours himself a green smoothie that he had saved in the refrigerator for dinner. “Just a friend in my CrossFit group.” His face is perfectly masked as he takes a drink.
“I’ve never heard you talk about her. I’ve heard of your other CrossFit friends.” I tilt my head back and forth as I rattle off his other workout buddies—buddiesbeing the key word. “I know Tony, Nick, Brock—”
“This is so like you, Meg.” Zak shakes his head as he gulps another swig of the kale and spinach monstrosity.
“What’sso like me?”
“You have an overactive imagination. You always jump to the worst-case scenario.”
I do my best to ignore the fact that he used the wordalways. Absolutes likealwaysandneveraren’t healthy for relationships, but hey, I’m not a therapist, nor am I trying to pick a fight. I’m just trying to stop myself from bursting into tears.
“I don’talwaysjump to the worst-case scenario.”
His light-brown eyes stare into mine. “Yes, you do. Last week you thought the guy you see by your building all the time was following you.”
“What was I supposed to think? Every time I left my apartment or came home, the guy was standing outside.”
“Because he lives there and was taking a smoke break.”
“The whole thing was an honest mistake. I thought he was very forgiving, considering the pepper spray and my yellow belt karate moves. We’re practically building BFFs now.”
