Page 59 of The Other Half

Oliver: Thanks for watching out for her

Amber: I’m not doing it for you, idiot? She’s my friend

I smirk at that and leave her on read. Even if that’s the case, I’m still thankful. I place my phone face down on the bed, and take a deep breath in a futile attempt to push away thoughts of all the ways life is fucking me left and right lately.

I close my eyes and pray, for about the millionth time today.

Chapter 46

Oakley

It’s Christmas Eve. Mom and I are pulling into the parking lot of the local grocery store to pick up a few last minute ingredients for Christmas dinner tomorrow. Gran is making baked chicken, because she knows I don’t like beef.

I expected the house to be full, back when I was a kid and we’d spend Christmas up here, all of my cousins from Florida would join us. Gran informed me that she’s spent the past two Christmases alone because my uncle hasn’t been able to bring his family up here. Hearing that just about broke my heart. My grandma has been spending Christmas alone while we were living it up at some tropical island. It makes me even more angry at Dad, seeing as the trips were always his idea.

I feel my phone vibrate incessantly in my pocket as soon as we get out of the car. I slide it out of my pocket and unlock it to see I have ten new messages and three voicemails. Guess that means I have service here. All of the voicemails are from my dad, as well as five of the texts. Lovely. There are also three from Amber, and two from Oliver. Still, my traitorous heart skips a beat just at the sight of his name.

I decide to wait until our grocery mission is over before reading the messages. I can only deal with so much shit at once. The store is packed, people are rushing around with their carts filled to the brim as if the apocalypse was scheduled for tomorrow. We pick out the few items we need and stand in the checkout line that’s practically wrapped around the store.

“Dad tried to call me,” I say.

“I knew he would. I’ll call him, you don’t need to.”.

I pull my phone back out and scroll through my messages, knowing that we’ll be standing here a while. All of my Dad’s messages are either him asking where we are or angrily telling me to call him back.

“Did you tell him we were leaving?” I ask.

She shifts on her feet, looking down at them. “I left him a note.”

I nod. I don’t know what other choice she had, I know telling him that in person would be risky.

I open the messages from Amber and Oliver.

Amber: Hey girl

Amber: You still gonna try to come over today?

Oliver: Please just let me know you’re okay.

Oliver: I know I fucked up. I know I’m confusing the hell out of you. I’m sorry. I just want to talk.

Confusing the hell out of me. He can say that again.

I quickly tell Amber what’s going on and that I’m sorry for not being able to reply sooner.

I stare at Oliver’s messages not knowing how to respond. What does he expect me to do? Open my heart up to him again, knowing that he’s just going to break it? He said it himself, there’s no way we can be together.

Oakley: I’m okay.

I watch as the message is delivered, and within a few seconds the read receipt pops up next to it.

Oliver: Thank God. I’ve been so fucking worried about you.

Oakley: I’m staying at my grandma’s for Christmas. Not sure when I’ll be back in town. I don’t have service at her house.

Oliver: Okay. I’m glad you’re safe. I hope you have a good Christmas.

I don’t feel right carrying on the conversation. I’m still mad at him for all of the hurtful shit he said to me, and how he’s completely ignored me up until now for almost a month. Even though I appreciate his concern, I don’t want his pity.

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