Page 101 of All the Right Things

“If you ever need help, let me know. I am not an expert by any means, but I can probably help you get started.”

She gives me an excited smile. “Thanks! I might take you up on that!”

Despite the cookies, I still feel myself getting more drunk, and I am pretty sure I’m not making much sense anymore.

At one point, I ask Nicole, “How’d you get to be so tall?”

She answers with, “I ate all my vegetables when I was a kid.”

Stunned, I ask, “Really?”

She giggles. “No, my parents are both tall.”

At least she’s a good sport while putting up with me in my drunken state.

So much has happened tonight, and the alcohol makes it hard to make sense of it all. But I do think I’ve figured a few things out.

One, Nicole is a lovely person, and I might have judged her a bit too soon. I compared her to Stacy just because they favor each other. It wasn’t fair.

Two, my inability to let things go seems to be holding me back.

And three, my avoidance might end up costing me the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Jonas.

Even though I’m still mad at him, I can’t even see straight.

Tomorrow, it’s time to make some changes.

Chapter Forty-three

Jonas

My knee bobs up and down as I try to focus on the TV screen. I’m watching a basketball game, but I’m so lost in my thoughts that I have no idea what’s happening. And I really don’t care.

I knew my sour mood would rear its ugly head, and of course, it had to do it when Andi had a bad day too. I pushed every single one of her buttons.

Although I believe everything that I said, I shouldn't have come at her like that. It wasn’t fair, and I acted like a complete asshole.

I considered driving around town trying to figure out where she went, but I figure right now, I am probably the last person she wants to see. Besides, she doesn’t hang out with many people. I figure she’s likely venting to Tracy about our fight. I’m not about to take that from her.

Beau seems to know something is up and has been lying right by my side all night. If he knew how mad she was at me, though, I’m sure he’d be mad at me too.

My problem is that I’m a fixer. I’d rather tell people how to fix their problems instead of just being there for them when they need me. All Andi needed was for me to listen, and instead, I lectured her about everything she was doing wrong.

No wonder she’s pissed at me.

My eyes are growing heavy, but I know that if I lie in bed right now, I will just toss and turn. My mind will be flooded with thoughts of Andi and wishing she was next to me.

Instead, I decide to try to get comfortable on the couch and hopefully doze off during the game.

It’s just about working when my phone starts buzzing beside me. Excited that it might be Andi, I don’t even read the screen before picking up.

“Hello?!”

“Joe?”

“Jessie?” I ask.

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