Page 54 of Time Loops & Meet Cutes
I nod because I’m suddenly incapable of speaking.
This is finally going to happen.
He steps back from me, and I fix my clothes. Then I pull out my phone to look at the time and discover I’ve missed some texts. My stomach drops as I start reading the desperate messages.
AVERY: I can’t do this anymore. Living the same day over and over, waking up next to Joe each morning. It’s like being trapped in a nightmare.
AVERY: Even the thought of doing it one more time… it’s unbearable.
Oh no.
My lust fading, I look up at Cam. “You know how there’s another woman in the loop?”
He nods.
“She needs me, and there’s no one else because, well…” I gesture feebly with my hands. “I have to go to her. I’m so sorry, but—”
“It’s okay. I understand.” His hand slides into my hair. “Besides, she’ll remember tomorrow, whereas I’ll forget this ever happened.” He pauses. “When do I usually say I’ll see you again?”
“You’re busy tomorrow, but you’re free on Sunday.”
“But Sunday has never come for you.”
“Correct.”
There’s a long, melancholy silence.
“I’ll see you soon,” he says softly. “Text me tomorrow to see if I remember, but if I don’t, you know how to find me, whenever you want me.”
And then he’s gone, and I hurriedly ask Avery for her address.
20Noelle
Fifteen minutes ago, I was having a hot-and-heavy make-out session with Cam, but that feels very, very far away now. My desire has been completely replaced with worry.
Avery lives in an old building in the west end. I take an Uber to save time, and when it comes to a stop, I practically sprint inside, following a delivery person into the lobby. We get into the elevator together, and I distantly register the smell of pizza.
Avery answers the door in pajama pants and a large T-shirt, her hair—not dyed today—unkempt. Her eyes are red.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “You were with Cam, weren’t you?”
“Nothing I haven’t done many times before,” I say lightly, even though it’s a lie. I don’t want her to feel bad about needing to talk. I sit down on the couch with her. “Do you want me to get you anything? Food, water—”
“You’re at my place. I should be offering those things to you.”
I shake my head. “Tell me what’s happening.”
I hope I’m doing a half-decent job of this. It’s been a long time since a close friend has called me while in distress because, well, I don’t have any close friends in my regular life. My pre-loop life. Veronica was my closest friend, but I didn’t talk to her all that much; I spent a lot of my time alone.
And honestly, I like spending time alone, but I’m realizing I isolated myself more than I should have.
“I’m just sotired,” she says, “of seeing Joe’s stupid face on my birthday.”
“Did you break up with him today?”
She nods. “Yeah. I told him he better not be here tonight. Then I ran outside because I can’t stand to look at him anymore, not when I know that he thinks he’s too good for me and no one else will have me. I couldn’t bear to hear him say, once again, that I’d come crawling back sooner or later, that I didn’t realize how lucky I was.”
She releases a sob-hiccup, and I pull her into my arms. I pat her back in a way that I hope is reassuring.
