Page 5 of Unpredictable

Congratulations Sterling Brooks,

We are happy to announce you have been accepted to start during our summer program of 2020.

I skim the rest of the letter in a blur.

“What are you looking at?” he asks as soon as he crosses the threshold.

“You leave in two weeks?” I ask befuddled.

“Reading someone else’s mail is a felony, Victoria,” he says gruffly as he roots around in his dresser for clothes.

“It wasn’t in an envelope, and I was lying on it. Were you going to tell me?”

“I didn’t think it was any of your business,” he says coolly.

“None of my business?” I ask with wide eyes. “We’re friends, have been for years. On top of that, we’ve been sleeping together for over half a year. Didn’t you think I would want to know?”

“We’ll figure it out.” He shrugs.

“We’ll figure it out,” I repeat. Shaking my head, I slowly stand and straighten my clothes robotically, my mind racing.

What does this mean for us?

Are we over?

Was he just going to leave?

Do I not mean anything to him?

“We’ll make it work, V. I promise,” he tells me while pulling his underwear on.

“Sure. Yeah. Whatever.” I look to the window and notice that it’s light out. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I should go.”

I make my way to the door, but he grabs me from behind. “It’s okay. I didn’t mind. I thought maybe we could repeat?”

His hand starts to trail down my stomach, but I pull away. Turning in his arms, I give him a quick peck. “Sorry. I should be getting home.”

Before I close the door, Sterling calls out my name. For one split second, I let myself believe he’s calling me back to tell me he’s finally come to his senses. Then I remember it's Sterling Brooks I’m talking about. I poke my head back through.

“Are we good?” Sterling is standing in the middle of the room in nothing but boxers.

Part of me wants to go back in there and live in my fantasy world. The other part cannot forget the words I read.

Summer Program.

I thought we had more time.

Forcing a smile, I nod before pulling the door closed. As soon as it shuts, I feel the first tear fall. It isn’t until I hit the stairs that the sobs hit me. I barely see the stairs as I race down them. Once I get to the bottom, I slip, falling to sit on the last step.

I let myself have one more sob before I take three deep breaths, collecting myself.

Then I do what I do best. I wipe my tears and push the pain down deep inside. Picking myself up, I hold my head high as I walk out the front door. Not willing to look towards his bedroom window, I slide into my car and leave his house without looking back.

You can’t keep doing this, my mind urges me.

You can’t stop it either, my heart argues.

The whole ride home, I feel the war brewing inside. I sob one more time and slam my fist into the steering wheel.

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