Page 190 of Built to Fall
And maybe it’s selfish or cowardly. But I’m clinging onto the one thing I want to do, and that’s making her happy. That’s my one goal tonight.
When I get to the girls’ apartment, I don’t bother knocking. I’ve gotten to the point of familiarity with the girls to where they started to get annoyed having to answer the door every time. Now, when they know I’m coming over, they leave it unlocked.
Still, I make sure to announce myself as I walk through the entryway and into the kitchen, “Hey! It’s me!”
And as I’m setting the bags down, Eden exits her bedroom, mostly naked.
“Eden!” I yell, covering my eyes and walking straight into Lina’s room.
I find her sitting on the counter of her bathroom, her feet in the sink as she does her makeup only a few inches from the mirror. Savannah’s standing behind her, curling her hair.
Braxton was right when he said the two of them have become attached at the hip. Since Lina and I started dating, I’ve seen Savannah nearly every time I’ve been over here, and if she’s not here, then I’m picking Lina up from Savannah’s sorority house.
They move like a unit now—laughing at things only they understand, sharing clothes, and finishing each other’s complaints. It works in a way that would make anyone think they’ve been friends their entire lives.
“Is it normal for your roommates to constantly walk around naked?” I ask, running both hands over my face.
“Just Eden,” she replies.
“Jesus, I’m scarred.”
Both the girls laugh—moreatmethan anything else.
“I think you’re just going to have to get used to it,” Savannah tells me, grabbing another section of Lina’s hair.
At the same time, Lina reaches her hand behind her, looking at me through the mirror while she cups my jaw.
“Hi,” she says softly, thumb brushing over the corner of my mouth. “You look stressed.”
“Iamstressed,” I mutter. “Your roommates are terrifying. And Eden needs to invest in some pants.”
Savannah snorts. “She has pants. She just doesn’t believe in them.”
“Happy birthday, pretty girl,” I tell her, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek while making sure to avoid Savannah’s curling iron.
March 13th. The most beautiful day, because it gave me her.
She smiles brightly, a slow, sleepy kind of grin that has me wondering if she’s going to make it through her party tonight. It has me dwelling on just how happy I am to be existing in these moments with her.
I’ve spent a lot of time, not only with Lina, but with the rest of the girls too. The past couple weeks have consisted of going out to dinner, staying in to eat ice cream, and watchingSex and the City.I’ve been forced to admitSex and the Cityisn’tthatbad.
I’ve done everything and anything surrounded by these women, and while they scare the hell out of me sometimes, I’ve never felt more folded into something.
Collectively, they’re messy and loud and argue over random things before admitting it was never serious enough to feud over anyway. But then there are also so many different dynamics that make it hard to classify them in such a way.
They’re messy, but Savannah and Eden are always picking up after everyone. They’re loud, but Lina and Meredith are the quietnegotiators. They might argue, but they so obviously love each other enough to let it fizzle out quickly.
It’s a living, breathing art of chaos. And somehow, I’ve found myself tangled in it.
Savannah finishes curling Lina’s last strand, steps back, and exhales like she just defused a bomb.
“You’re done,” she declares.
Lina tilts her head, inspecting herself in the mirror. “I look tired.”
“You look like I’m gonna have to fistfight the next guy who blinks in your direction,” I say, leaning against the doorway.
“You think I look that good?” Her mouth twitches upward.
