I hear rustling around in the living room as I pour a glass of wine, trying to forget about the day. As I lean against the doorway, Drew walks past me like I have a disease.
“Well, hello to you, too,” I say before kicking off my heels and walking to the couch with my wine. It’s still warm from where he was sitting. The shower comes on, and I finish the glass then put it in the sink. The material of the skirt is itchy, so I walk to my room and change into something more comfortable. Grabbing a tank top and pajama pants, I change and wait until I hear the water stop and the bathroom door open so I can wash my face. Nonchalantly I walk to the bathroom and pass Drew in the hallway. He swallows hard and keeps walking to his room without a word exchanged. Seriously? I really hope he’s not mad at me.
After I put my hair in a messy ponytail on top of my head, I turn on the water and bend over the sink to scrub the makeup from my face then head back to my room. Before I walk in, I stand in the hallway for a second, contemplating knocking on Drew’s door. We need to talk about this before it gnaws at my sanity. Sucking in a deep breath, I take a few more steps forward and stand outside his door. Right when I go to knock, he opens the door and is standing there staring at me like I’m a ghost.
“Why are you being so weird?” I ask.
He looks into my eyes then looks away. “I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Listen, I’m sorry about today. Whatever you want in life, I support that. You can always talk to me about anything. Okay?”
Drew nods. “Thanks.” He walks past me, and I stand there confused by his shortness.
“So, are you still mad at me?” I yell down the hall when he’s out of sight.
It’s completely silent for a few seconds, and my heart begins to race. Maybe I shouldn’t have blurted that out? Maybe there was a better way to ask him?
As soon as I let out a sigh, Drew yells back, “No.”
A big smile crosses my face, and I’m genuinely happy.
“Good,” I whisper with a smile. I head back to my room and climb into bed.
CHAPTER FIVE
DREW
One week before the wedding…
Between the argument with Mia and that hot sex dream of my best friend, I’ve successfully avoided Courtney like the plague for a week. I can’t look at her without feeling guilty. Every time I even think about her, all I envision is her perfect, luscious body pressed against mine and it’s freaking me the fuck out.
I’ve never thought of Courtney like that before. Sure, she’s pretty, funny, and smart, but she’s always just been one of the guys I hang with, minus the being a guy part. Once Viola and she became friends, she just started being one of mine. There was never anything more to us, and I’m not sure how or why Mia thinks otherwise. Now, for whatever reason, Courtney is haunting my dreams. Every night this week before going to bed, I’ve tried thinking of something else—anything else—but nothing’s worked. Courtney naked on top of me. Courtney naked under me. Courtney naked in the shower.
Fuck.
However, last night I woke up to a text message from Mia that solidified our relationship. I hadn’t told her what she wanted to hear, so she made the decision for us.
Randomly throughout the day, I’ve opened my phone and read it.
M: I can’t do this, Drew. When Courtney’s gone, we can start over again.
Being given an ultimatum really pisses me off and I think it’s the most upset I’ve been with Mia in years. I let her get away with so much, but this has crossed the line. I don’t want Courtney to move out. For Christ’s sake, she’s one of my best friends who also happens to pay her rent early and doesn’t annoy me much. She’s a better roommate than Travis because she’s OCD about the same things, like our cabinets and refrigerator.
Instead of Mia giving me the chance to figure this shit storm out, she breaks up with me as if she didn’t trust me. I’ve been nothing but faithful to her regardless of how much mud she’s dragged me through over the years. Honestly, I’m tired of the back and forth. I love her. I really do, but little by little she’s chipping away at my patience.
I haven’t told Viola about our breakup.
I actually haven’t told anyone but Travis.
Though I don’t want to ask, I’m sure she’s not going to accompany me to the wedding, which hurts. It isn’t the worst thing in the world to happen, but I imagined this week would play out differently and by the weekend we’d be back to the norm again—well what’s normal for us.