Page 55 of The Layover
He was already putting ‘us’ in the past becauseI’dmessed up …
Now, though, my memory twists from him leaving my flat with a dead phone so he never saw my messages, to him wandering down the street on the lookout for a coffee shop and absently swiping on his phone, checking messages and notifications and …
And dating apps.
And messaging Gemma.
And then Kayleigh showing up.
And Marcus, ignoring my messages.
I’m walking in circles around the terminal and my step falters, my eyes blurry with tears. I don’t dare ask Gemma for more details; I can’t bear to hear that it’s true – but it’s so hard to shake the feeling that it is. That it was nevermewho rejectedhim.
It hurts. It’s a physical pain, knifing through my heart and shredding it, and it takes all my willpower to swallow down a sob and blink back a fresh wave of tears.
What if it’s really all been in my head this entire time? Iknowhow it felt when he kissed me, Iknowhow he smiles at me and hugs me, but … What if they’re right? What if this is all a game to him?
Is that really the man I know? The man Ilove?
Before I know what I’m doing, my phone is in my hands, and I’m texting him.
We don’t FaceTime, don’t phone, because of Kayleigh. The guilt that comes with that thought threatens to rip my heart right out of my chest.
Wish I was there with you. I miss you.
It’s mere moments before the read receipt appears, and my heart somersaults. Both my hands grip the phone tight, and I wait with bated breath as three little dots appear to show he’s typing a reply…
Miss u too
Not the same without you here babe xxx
And I know I shouldn’t say it, but my fingers are already moving across the screen, and the message is sent before I can second-guess it.
Do you ever think about that night after Billy and Ophie’s housewarming party?
Ofc xxx
Was a great party
And a great after-party ;)
My stomach is full of butterflies, I’m seeing stars, my heart is skipping a beat. I am every cliché all at once – because of awinky face. There’s no room for me to feel foolish about that, though, because everything is taken over by the simple fact that he still thinks about it.
He thinks about our night together, that kiss, aboutus, who we could have been if …
If he hadn’t left to chase other girls.
IfIhad just invited him to stay for breakfast, ifIhadn’t brushed it under the rug.
The phone buzzes and another text pings through, turning my eyes wide.
Shame there can’t be a round two tonight lol
You’re missing one hell of a party xxx
Round two?
Since it’s my last official night as a single man and all
