Page 7 of The Pieces We've Lost

“You know how I feel about going out during the rodeo, Isa. We’ve been over this before.”

The bars during RodeoHouston were a trap, full of fake cowboys and buckle bunnies. I had better things to do than spend my evening fighting off horny college boys.

“Please, one night. I will make it up to you, I promise.” She had been begging me to go downtown with her for days now.

The rodeo had started a little over a week ago, and she no doubt was looking to get in on all the action.

“Can’t you ask Erin or Jess to go with you?” I suggested. She had other friends, so I didn’t know whyIhad to go with her.

“I mean, yeah, but you’re mybest friend.I just want to spend time with you, Ells.”

I guess even I didn’t get a pass on this one.

“Fine, but you owe me.” I gave in because when Isabelle Bennett wanted something, she didn’t stop until she got it. That applied to boys, jobs, and apparently getting Ellison Wilson to go downtown during one of the busiest times of the year.

I met Isa at our college freshman orientation when Ispilled an iced coffee all over her. I turned around too quickly after grabbing it, and the force of me bumping into her popped the entire lid off, and suddenly my drink was soaking her white tank top.

Instead of getting upset like most would, she simply shrugged and said, “Guess my shirt needed a coffee boost too.”

The joke was so awful I snorted laughing, and our friendship only grew from there.

We spent more time hanging out with each other than we spent with our dorm roommates that year, and we lived together for the rest of college.

We were the perfect duo. Isa was the life of the party and I was the rational one. With her blonde curls and bubbly personality, she was always catching people’s attention. I was the one who reined her back in when she got a little too crazy, but she also brought me out of my shell.

In the four years since we’d met, we’d experienced it all. Breakups, failed exams, job interviews, bad Bumble dates. You name it, and we probably vented about it over cheap wine or ice cream.

I was there when Isa’s first college boyfriend cheated on her and broke her heart. She was there when I got rejected from my dream internship. She was also one of few people who knew about my dad and the upcoming anniversary of his death.

Going out was no doubt an attempt to distract me and make sure I had a little bit of fun, which I appreciated, but at the same time I questioned why wehadto go to the bars and couldn’t just do a movie night with wine or something.

“Okay, so I’m thinking we get downtown a little before nine so we can find decent parking, especially since most people will hopefully be going to the concert first and then the bars after, so that means we should start getting ready by at least six o’clock.” She eagerly started planning out the night.

“Isa, that’s right now. You couldn’t have given me at least a day or even a few hours to prepare?”

“You and I both know that if I had given you that much time, you would have backed out and made someexcuse about how you can’t come.” Isa crossed her arms and gave me a knowing look.

“Okay, okay, you’re probably right.” I rolled my eyes.

“Of course I’m right, Ellie. When have Ieverbeen wrong?” The corners of her lips curled up in a devilish grin as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and disappeared around the corner.

I followed her into my bedroom and flopped down on the bed. She was already digging through my closet.

“Where are all of your sexy clothes?” She had resorted to tossing clothes out of the closet after she realized she wasn’t finding what she wanted.

A T-shirt hit me in the face, and I rolled my eyes as I stood.

“Wow, first you force me to go downtown with you and now you insult my clothing choices?” I scoffed, holding my hand to my chest in mock offense. I pushed her aside and pulled out a pair of light-wash Wrangler jeans and a simple black crop top, holding them up for her to see. “Here. Is this good enough for you?”

“Not exactly what I had in mind, but I’m not going to change yours, am I?” Isa pouted.

“Nope. It’s called compromise. Besides, you would have been looking for something all day if I had let you, and we definitely don’t have time for that with how long it takes you to get ready.” I grinned.

If you thought typical girls took a long time to get dressed and do their hair and makeup, you would be amazed Isa was even able to make it out of the door on time. I had never met someone who took as long to get ready as her.

I sighed as I lay down on my bed, watching as Isa continued to dig through my closet for God knows what. Iwas slowly starting to accept the idea of going out because I had to admit, being able to take my mind off the looming anniversary of my father’s death was nice. This week had been tough on both my mother and me, and it was all leading up to tomorrow, aka the worst day of our lives, so why shouldn’t I go out and let off some steam?

CHAPTER FOUR

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