Hazed (Palm South University)

She sighs. “A half a bottle ago, I would have said let’s change the subject. But…” She wiggles her almost-empty glass with a smile.

“Is it school?”

“Somewhat. I mean, I knew law school wouldn’t be easy, but I guess I did wrongly assume that I was smarter than nearly everyone else.” She smiles with the joke. “I spend so much time on campus, and when I’m not there, I’m studying. And speaking of studying, the people in my study group kind of suck,” she adds with a laugh, but her eyes are sad.

“Why did the words study group just make you almost cry?”

She shakes her head. “You’re going to think I’m stupid.”

“I promise, that’s not possible.”

Another sigh. “I just… Gavin and I haven’t seen each other much since… since… the whole…”

“Valentine’s Day thing?” I finish for her.

She nods. “And we were supposed to have a date night last week, but he bailed for a study group thing. Which I totally understand. He’s graduating with his master’s degree in a couple months, and I know he’s worked hard for this. But honestly? I’m worried about him.”

I tilt my head, biting back the curse words I want to throw out for that idiot blowing her off for a fucking study group. “Why’s that?”

“He hasn’t been coming to therapy, not for about a month now. He says he’s gotten what he needed out of it, that he needs to focus on school. And he has a part-time job helping out in the admissions office, too. And I get it, I do, but… I just don’t know that he’s cured or whatever. I don’t think any of us really are. You know? And I just hate to see him pull away from therapy.” She swallows, eyes on her glass. “Away from me.”

“He feels distant?”

She snorts a laugh. “Very much so.”

I inhale a deep breath, let it go, do it all again once more for good measure while I sort through my thoughts and what I want to say. That little voice inside me is screaming now for me to tell her he’s an idiot and not good enough for her and that she should tell him not to let the doorknob hit him on the way out of her fucking life forever.

But, thankfully, even in my tipsiness, I know that’s not the best move.

As much as it sours my gut, she cares about this guy. And this is the first guy she’s allowed herself to care about since that horrendous night happened to her.

“I understand that school is important. I mean, I’m in my last semester, too, and you just graduated. We get that pressure.”

Erin nods.

“But that being said, I can always find time for people who are important to me.” I wave a hand at the phone. “Case in point, tonight. And I know that even though you’re up to your neck in schoolwork, you still find time for the girls when they need you, and if Gavin called you right now and said to come over, you would be in your car in the next five minutes.”

“Seven,” she corrects. “I’d have to brush my teeth.”

I smirk, taking a moment to think about my next words carefully. “What I’m saying is, maybe you should just remind him that if you’re important to him, he needs to show it. And Erin, I hate to say it, but no one can read your mind. Least of all a man.”

She laughs.

“I mean it. I think you’re one of those girls who says yes to everything, helps everyone, while silently wishing that someone would see you and ask you what you need, too.”

Her eyes well up at that, and she rolls her lips together. “I do. I really do.”

“Well, sometimes you’ve just got to tell people what you need. Especially if he’s got so much going on, he probably doesn’t even know he’s upsetting you. He just thinks you’re cool with him bailing and rescheduling and not giving you his time.” I shrug. “Tell him you need him. Tell him you want him at therapy and then you want him to take you out and spend the night with you.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“It is. Do you want me to make you some cue cards?”

She chuckles. “If you were here, I’d glob you with a pillow.”

I grab the one behind me and knock myself over the head, which makes her burst out into a full-belly laugh.

Number thirteen for the night, if my numbers are right.

“Ugh, okay. I’ll just… tell him that I need to see him.”

“Good girl.”

She bites her lip. “What if he still bails, or makes an excuse?”

“I think you know the answer to that.”

She nods, her eyes sad again as she sips the last of her wine.

“Hey, look at me.” I wait until she does, and then I smile, hoping she can feel my sincerity when I say, “No matter what, you always have me.”