Page 85 of Still Here Without You

“Probably because I’m hungover in bed.”

Mom sighs. “Oh, Joel. She’ll come around.”

“What the hell?” I yell much louder than necessary. “I’m going to kill him for real this time.”

“Who?”

“Dylan!”

“Dylan? Why? He didn’t tell me anything. You texted me last night or rather, this morning.”

“I did what now?” God, I was messed up.

“The text was a little cryptic, but the name Delilah was clear.”

I slap myself in the forehead, trying to remember what I wrote, then realize I can just look at my sent messages.

“If I’m understanding correctly, I think we need to have a serious talk,” Mom says as I read what I sent. Along with the messages between Delilah and me.Shit. Fuck. Hell.

“I sent that in a drunken haze, Mom. I never should have said that.”

“I know that. But I still think we should talk.”

I grunt, rolling over onto my stomach, and bury my face in the pillow to yell. Mom waits patiently on the phone until I’m over my little outburst.

“Feel better?”

“Not even remotely, but I’ll come over this week.”

“Thank you. That will makemefeel better.”

I groan again, digging the palms of my hands into my eyes.I am never drinking again.

“Oh, and Joel…does she have someone to talk to?”

“I wish I knew. I can tell you it’s not me, though.”

“Talk to her.” Mom’s tone is soft, but it has some bite.

“She’s not making that easy,” I say, rubbing my temples.

“Try harder.”

I sigh. “Okay, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

“Love you, Mrs. M,” Dylan calls from across the hall, loud enough for her to hear. She laughs.

“Tell him I love him too.”

I hang up and wait for Dylan to enter the room. He stumbles in with his fist against his head and a scrunched up face. “Fuck, I feel like shit. But I woke up with Summer in my bed, so who’s complaining?” He cringes apologetically at his words, but I wave it off.I’m fine.That’s what I’m telling myself, anyway. But when he walks down the hall, I roll onto my stomach and groan.Why can’t I be that happy?

When I finally make it into the kitchen, I come face to face with Summer standing by the counter, something I’m going to have to get used to. She and Dylan are endgame. He’s finally met his match.

“Sum.” I nod as I drop down onto the bar stool.

“You look like shit. Worse than Dylan.”

---