Page 105 of Glad You Exist

"El."

“Brad?”

"I'm here." I try to do a good job of hiding my irritation.

"What time is it?"

"Past two."

“Did we miss the ferry?”

“We did.”

“What about the last ferry?”

“That too.”

“I missed our date?”

“You did.”

She peers up at me then hides behind her arms. "You're mad."

"I'm not."

She turns her bedside lamp on then glances back at me. I sigh at the sight of her in the light. Her eyes are swollen, with dark circles under them.

I sit up and offer her my arm. She tucks herself under and rests her chin on my chest to look up at me. I can't look at her because I know she'll see right through me.

"You're mad." She repeats her earlier statement.

I don't respond and just tighten my hold on her, pressing my nose to her hair.

Liz sighs, “Brad.”

I gaze down at her and run a hand down her arm, “Yeah?”

“I’m really sorry. I overslept.”

I gesture at her laptop and books. “Doesn’t look like you did much sleeping, El.”

She scans my face, her brow wrinkling. “I wanted to get some studying done last night.”

I know I sound irrational, but I can’t help it. I have officially run out of patience and my tank is empty. I’m veering unsteadily towards being pissed.

“You had time to study but not call or text me back?”

Liz sits up abruptly, letting my arm fall off. She climbs out of her bed in a huff and strides over to her study desk in the corner of her room. She pulls out her phone from her purse then comes back to the side of the bed I’m sitting on, handing me her phone.

“Here. Have at it.”

“What for?”

“So, you can stop insinuating that I didn’t contact you on purpose. I missed everyone’s calls and messages.” Her voice carries a flash of hurt.

I scoff. I suddenly can’t find it in myself to care now that she’s lumped me in with everyone else.

“Oh, in that case, it’s fine. I didn’t know you missed your other boyfriend’s calls too.”

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