Page 29 of Waiting Forever
It’s amazing how quickly life can change.
Like now. I’m in my pajamas hiding from Nathan when moments ago, I was shaving and making sure I was bikini ready to swim with him.
Those plans changed as soon as I saw a missed call from my mom and a text.
I stare at the message still pulled up on my phone and read it again.
The attorney should have news for us either tomorrow or the next day. I’ll call as soon as I hear from him. Hope you’re having a nice first night in Winter Park. Tell Nathan I said to spoil you. Dad says tell him to include you in his life but to keep his friends away from you. Now he’s saying to have Nathan call him so he can tell him himself. I’m rolling my eyes, if you can imagine. I’m also finished sending messages for your father. He has a phone. It’s late here. Normal people are sleeping but we’re still on Dallas time. Of course, your father doesn’t require sleep like a normal person, so I’m sure he’ll be up with the sun. I’m going to try to sleep. Text if you need me. Night, honey. Love you!
This is why I canceled on Nathan. Shame doused my excitement to hang out with him the moment I read Mom’s words.
I don’t expect him to spoil me like they do, but I should expect him to treat me better than he did this afternoon.
With a sigh, I let my phone slip through my fingers onto the couch and remind myself I made the right decision.
If I had grilled out back with Nathan and swam, I would have flirted or wanted to. He’s my weakness; always has been. Superman has kryptonite; I have Nathan. And he has a girlfriend. A beautiful one at that.
Still, a part of me thinks he’s mine, which is stupid. So what if I’ve known him my entire life? If I’ve imagined our wedding, acted it out with my Barbies when I was younger and then inThe Simsgames when I was a teenager? Yep. I’m that girl. I created us in the game. I even created our families. We got married, bought a house, adopted a dog, and had a baby. The laptop I used to play the game crashed before I could name the baby or see who he would grow up to look like, his father or me.
I throw back my head and let out a sarcastic laugh. “So pathetic.”
At least I didn’t give in to my weakness and hang out with him tonight.
I stand and glance at the bed. How much longer until the pizza guy gets here?
A moment later, Nathan texts me.I’m done. Did the pizza come?
Not yet.
Okay.
You hungry?
Not really.
A long pause, then his reply,Okay. I’ll get the pizza when it arrives. Text me if you want me to bring you a few slices.
Thanks.I should eat. But then I’d have to see Nathan and I’m too exhausted to deal with him. Sleep sounds much more appealing.
I walk to the bed and climb under the covers. Silky sheets and a soft mattress cushion my body. A yawn parts my lips.
I plug my phone into the charger on the nightstand. It’s the only thing I unloaded from the boxes, other than my toiletries—toothbrush, face soap, and body lotion.
After class tomorrow morning, I’ll unpack the rest of my stuff and make this room my own. I’ll also decide if I’m going to meet Nathan out back for that dinner. Maybe he’ll have to stay late at work or make other plans. The decision would be made for me then. I frown at the thought. My eyelids grow heavy.
I roll onto my side and snuggle into the memory foam pillow I brought from home. Some things you can’t live without.
Before allowing myself to fall asleep, I wish for clarity and hope for a better tomorrow.
14
Kensington
THE TEXT COMES in as soon as class ends. I slip through the propped-open door with the other students and stop by the wall to read the message from my mom.
Call me please.
Oh no.Worst-case scenarios bombard my mind. Dad left London to beat to death the two guys who attacked me,orhe already killed them.
