Page 34 of Keep Me Still
I don’t say anything, but he’s in dangerous territory, so I level his ass with a glare. Taite didn’t know any better, but Skylar does. Maybe not all the details but the gist.
He doesn’t take the hint. “If you love something, sometimes you just gotta set it free, or some bullshit.”
“I can hardly believe you don’t have a girlfriend,” I tell him.
“Yeah, well, your girl’s redheaded friend was pretty damn fine looking. Hook a brother up.”
“She’s not my girl.” Not anymore anyways. Damn, my side is stinging.
“So I noticed, and by the way, your pussy lips are showing. You gonna do anything about it or what?”
What can I do? I almost ask him out loud. But the answer’s so damn obvious I could trip over it. Letting her go is not the direction I should be headed.
“I got Red’s number last night,” Skylar continues, pulling me from my revelation. “I could call and see if they want to hit a club or two with us tonight. And while I’m nailing Red, you and Peaches could knit some sweaters together or something. Maybe a nice little satchel for her to put your balls in.”
Fuck it. The worst that can happen is she can say no. “Yeah, you do that. And maybe don’t mention to Red that you plan to “nail” her. She seems pretty lethal. Probably mess you up pretty good if she heard you say that.”
“Don’t worry about my game, O’Brien. I got this.” He’s grinning like it’s a sure thing, but that girl was ferocious as fuck, like a rabid dog that eats balls for breakfast. I have a feeling she’ll chew Skylar’s cocky ass up and spit him out. Oh well. Not my problem. I have my own shit to worry about.
“What’sthis?” I ask my roommate as she strolls in and sets two bags on my bed. One is plastic and from Target and the other is a small and brown.
“My surefire remedy for a broken heart,” Corin says, nodding at them.
I’m still in bed, unwashed and waterlogged from tears I should’ve kept to myself. I sit up and peek in the plastic bag. A half pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked, a box of Kleenex, and a tube of shimmery coral-colored lip gloss. I check the paper bag. A few sample size bottles of liquor stare back at me.
“I don’t get it.” And how did she buy liquor? Something tells me Corin gets around pesky things like rules and laws regarding the proper ID required to purchase alcohol.
“Oh! I almost forgot the most important part.” She turns, grabs a CD from her collection, and pops it in the player on the nightstand. “Don’t worry. I’ll load this on your iPod later.”
“What is it?” A woman’s voice fills the room, and I swear to whatever higher power is listening, it’s my pain personified.
Corin hands me a slim case with a gorgeous and tatted up woman on the cover. Christina Perri,Lovestrong, it says. Never heard of it but this woman is singing to my wounded soul like she’s experienced the exact kinds of loss I have. I make a mental note to like her on Facebook and add her to my Spotify playlist.
“You have exactly fifty-eight minutes and fifty-four seconds to wallow in your self-pity. Eat the ice cream, cry if you need to, use the Kleenex.” She pauses and hands me a spoon so I do as I’m told. “And then, when the music stops, you are going to shower. Then we’re going to get ready to go out. Pour yourself a drink.” She stands and retrieves the little liquor bottles from the bag. “Put on some lipstick.” I pull out the lip gloss and she nods with approval. “And pull yourself together.”
I can’t help but grin. “Wow. You come up with that yourself?”
“No, Elizabeth Taylor did. But it works. Trust me.” With that, Corin leaves me alone with my pain and goody bags.
And it kind of does work. By the time the CD ends, I feel like a human being again. Though songs four and five on the disc slayed me all over again and I almost ran out of tissues. I take a shower and call my Aunt Kate afterwards because I’ve been avoiding telling her about Landen for long enough.
“I’m sorry it’s difficult Layla, but you’ve survived worse,” she reminds me once I’ve finished with the sordid details.
“I know. I just…didn’t expect to see him here.”
Aunt Kate clears her throat. “But isn’t it kind of nice to have someone you know there? I have to admit, I’m having a hard time with you being all the way across the country.”
I sigh and bite my thumbnail. “I don’t know. Seeing him wasn’t easy. I don’t know if we can just be friends. Maybe I’m being stupid,” I admit, because maybe I am overreacting. Maybe it’s a good thing that he’s here.
“Layla, you are the exact opposite of stupid. Not to mention the kindest, most forgiving girl I’ve ever known. I’d like to take credit for it except your mom was always the good-hearted one. Hence why she was the counselor and I’m the bitchy lawyer.”
“You’re not bitchy,” I tell her with a laugh. Except I’ve seen her in court and she is pretty ruthless actually. “Just good at your job.”
“I just want you to be happy…happy and safe,” she adds quietly.
“I know, and you’re right. I can play nice with Landen. He means well.” I think.
“I know you can. You’re not only sweet and kind but your strong, probably the strongest girl I’ll ever have the pleasure of knowing.”
