Page 101 of The Devil's Weakness

I put my phone back in my pocket and begin to channel surf, hoping a show can distract me. I don’t have to work today, thankfully. I usually look to the diner to help get my mind off of whatever shit my life is being dragged through, but after yesterday, I’m grateful I don’t need to set foot in there for two more days. I’m not ready for all the stares I’ll get and the whispers I’m going to hear.

I settle on an episode of theGolden Girlsand am content to sit in this spot all day, consumed with reruns rather than thoughts ofhim.

* * *

Around seven-thirty that evening,I’m proud I’ve made it through the day without reaching out to Blade, but I’m also irritated that he hasn’t reached out to me either.

It’s been eating away at me since this morning.

Stupidly, I grab my phone from the coffee table and type out a message to him.

Me: Hi.

I put my phone down and take my dinner plate into the kitchen to wash it off, just to keep myself from staring at the screen, pathetically waiting for a response. Once that’s finished, I refill my water and sit down again. When I pick my phone back up, I see Blade has responded.

Carson: Hello to you, too. I’m shocked you’re speaking to me.

Me: Me too. I used to have higher standards.

I feel bad as soon as I send it. That wasn’t very nice.

Carson: Ouch.

Me: I didn’t mean that. I’m just angry.

Carson: It’s okay. I’m sorry about last night.

Carson: To be clear, I’m not sorry that I punched him. He put his hands on me and got what he deserved. But I am sorry that I made you angry.

That’s not exactly the apology I was looking for, but I have a feeling Blade doesn’t apologize for anything, ever. So, I’ll take what I can get.

Carson: It pissed me off that he thought I would hurt you. I would never do that.

I can hear my heartbeat thumping in my ears as I read his text.

Me: Thank you for the apology.

Carson: Is the Boy Scout still there?

How did he…?

Motherfucker.

Me: Were you watching me again?

I see the three dots appear as he begins to reply, and then they disappear. I wait a moment, and they appear again. They stay there for a while this time.

Is he writing a book?

Carson: I’m not going to apologize for who I am when it comes to you. You’re lucky I saw him sleeping alone on the sofa. Otherwise, I would have let myself in and drug his ass out of there.

Me: Wow. And here I was feeling bad about kicking you out.

Carson: Yeah, I bet you were.

This truce is going downhill, fast.

Me: You know, if you weren’t such a damn hot head, maybe you would have been the one who slept over last night.

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