Page 132 of You and Me, For Real
My phone buzzes with another text. And another. Annnnd another.
Wren
Where are you?
Wren
Are you okay?
Wren
Are you alive?
Wren
Please just tell me you’re okay.
Guilt pinches me at not having thought to text her last night. Already, I’m a terrible friend.
Ashton
I’m alive. I’m sorry I didn’t text you.
The phone lights with immediate dots.
Wren
I’m just glad you’re okay. Where are you? Can I come see you?
Teddy army-crawls toward me and nuzzles under my arm. I breathe in his familiar scent. I trust Wren not to tell Griffin where I’m staying, and honestly, I could use her positivity about now. With her being familiar with Griffin and my whole “situation,” she might give a better perspective on how I should proceed.
Ashton
I’m at my sister’s. Here’s the address.
Wren
Great. Be there in ten.
I laugh.
Wren
Wait. Just kidding. It’ll take at least an hour in traffic, but I promise I’ll be there ASAP. Need anything? Chocolate? Tub of ice cream? A vat of queso and chips?
I laugh again, already feeling lighter.
Ashton
Yes. Chips and queso, please.
Wren
On it.
I force myself out of bed, my limbs weighing a thousand pounds, and shrug on my comfiest sweats. I sneak into the bathroom and peer into the mirror. My hair is a lopsided bird’s nest, my makeup like a bridezilla’s—the kind who stayed out all night drinking and partying. I scrub my face, brush my teeth, and then tame my hair into a messy bun.
When I emerge from the bathroom, I feel closer to a human being, just one functioning on minuscule sleep.
