Page 99 of The Change Up
He snaps his thumb and middle finger together before he’s pointing his finger in my direction. “Yeah, that’s the one.”
I’ve spent four days trying to track her down. I’ve been to her townhouse. To Macy’s apartment. To her friend from the newspaper staff’s apartment. I never would have thought of the sorority house where Sav lives.
Savannah is new to the girls’ friend group. She’s been coming to more parties with the girls, and she completely slipped mymind. Honestly, I didn’t see Chloe hiding out in a sorority house, but then again, I didn’t expect her to overhear my bullshit and run into her estranged mom within fifteen minutes of each other.
Pushing off from the counter, I storm out of the kitchen.
“Might want to take a fucking shower!” Hudson yells after me. “You stink!”
Sniffing my armpit, I cringe. Shit, he’s right.
Twenty minutes later I’m freshly showered with jeans and a gray threadbare T-shirt. The dark circles and bags are still under my eyes, but at least I don’t smell like ass anymore. Running my fingers through my damp hair, I grab a hat and toss it on my head. Hopefully, the bill will help cover my stressed face.
The drive to the DZ house goes quicker than I want, even with a couple of quick stops along the way. I spent the whole drive running through different scenarios.
What if she slams the door in my face?
What if she’s no longer living there? That seems to be her MO, not staying in one place for a long period.
It’s smart, and if she wasn’t running from me, I’d appreciate the clever trick. But I am the one she’s hiding from, and I can’t handle it anymore.
What if she’s done with us? I’ve lived without her for four days, and I’m going crazy. Somewhere along the way, she’s stolen my heart.
Hell, if I’m being honest with myself, she stole my heart two years ago. It hasn’t been mine since I walked into that diner with the retro decor and laid eyes on the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. She had a smile that made everyone’s day brighter. Honey-blonde hair piled high on her head with pieces falling around her beautiful ocean-blue eyes.
Steeling my shoulders, I trek up the sidewalk that leads to the large colonial home. An oversized porch with columns welcomesyou to the pink front door. Reaching for the gold knocker, I tap it a couple of times against the door.
Nerves swim in my system as I wait for one of the girls to answer the door. Hoping and wishing my girl is one of the many on the inside.
A brunette I’ve seen around campus answers the door. “Hey, Cody.”
“Hey, is Sav or Chloe Mariano here?” Placing my hands in my pockets, I rock back and forth on my toes. My nerves are starting to weigh against me.
I watch as the brunette’s face morphs into a pitying look, and it makes my skin crawl. “No, they’re both out right now. I can let them know you stopped by.”
“No, that’s okay,” I say with a frustrated sigh. “Do you mind if I just wait out here?”
“You can wait in the living room if you want.”
Shaking my head, I step back. “I’m fine out here. Thanks.”
“No problem. If it matters, I told her she should at least hear you out. In my experience, guys are idiots and don’t realize half the shit they’re saying when they say it.”
“Thanks…I think?” She nods as if she just solved all of the problems in the world by announcing that guys are dumbasses who don’t know how to think. In this situation, I think I can agree with her.
Moving backward until I reach the steps, I slide down on the first one and rest my back against the column. Adjusting until I’m comfortable, I wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.
Girls come and go, but it’s never the one I’m searching for. Two hours pass, and I’m debating if I should give up when I spy golden blonde hair. She’s dressed in an oversized sweatshirt with bike shorts peeking out below the hem. The light she alwayspossesses is dimmed, and my heart aches at the pain I’ve caused her.
Savannah spots me first, her expression morphing into anger like a mama bear preparing to protect her young. Chloe must feel the shift in Sav’s body language because she bounces her eyes from her friend to where I’m sitting on the concrete step.
There’s a brief look that passes through Chloe’s eyes, and I can’t tell if it’s frustration she’s been found or relief that I haven’t given up.
She should know that I wouldn’t give up. I’ve been leaving gifts at the townhouse, inside the newsroom, at Macy’s, wherever I think she’ll be. Honey lavender lattes, bouquets of wildflowers, I even went through her wishlist and purchased a couple of books she’s been wanting to read. Every gift was accompanied by a note saying how sorry I am and what I love about her.
