Page 96 of Just Friends Forever
Hey, haven’t heard from you today. Just wondering where you are and if you’re okay.
That’s what I’ve been wondering about her all day too. Not where she is buthowshe is and… whether she’s had any epiphanies that might clarify what the rest of my life is going to look like.
I haven’t wanted to intrude on her reflective time. She needs to figure things out without me popping in every five minutes to check her temperature. Besides, it’s been less than twenty-four hours. If my concern is that it hasn’t been long enough for her to really know what she wants, one day isn’t going to change that.
Troy
I’m just hanging out on the swings for a bit. My phone is about to die.
Stevie
The swings we went to? Can I join you? Maybe we can talk.
I suck in a breath. Those words are a nondescript cardboard box, and inside could be the best gift I’ve ever received or one of those spring-mounted boxing gloves to jab me in the face and break my nose. If she’s already come to a conclusion this soon, the latter looks more likely.
Troy
I can come there. It’s kind of complicated for you to come here.
Stevie
Pssh. I’ve got this *flex emoji*
My phone dies. With an annoyed sigh, I toss it into the nearby grass and wrap my hands around the cold metal of the swings.
How do you emotionally prepare yourself for a second rejection from the only woman you’ve ever loved? That’s what I need to be doing right now, but instead, I’m thinking back on our kiss and how it felt to hold Stevie like that.
It’s barely been five minutes when movement catches my eye. A figure in a black hoodie and sweats is jogging toward me. Stevie glances behind her, then pulls off her hood as she approaches.
“Hey,” she says breathlessly.
“Hey,” I say as she takes a seat in the swing next to me.
“Sounds like you’ve had a day,” she says.
I sigh and let my head fall back to look up at the night sky. “A little bit, yeah.”
“I heard about Rocco.”
I glance at her, frowning. “How did you—” I chuckle and look at the ground. “He told you.”
“He did. Had a little tantrum and everything.”
I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for him to bring you into it—or to make you look bad when you’re the one who referred me to him.”
She laughs. “I’mthe one who should be apologizing. I knew he was a diva, but my gosh. He couldn’t stand you choosing another client over him.” She looks at me. “That’s what happened, right?”
“Not at first,” I say. “Initially, I did choose him. I chose him because…” I shake my head and turn it away, deciding not to go there. What does it matter?
“Because of what?” she prompts me. “Because he threatened you?”
“Because I wanted to be good enough for you.” I meet her gaze.
Her brows pull together. “What?”
I nod. “Did you read what that article said today? The one with the picture of you and Austin?”
She shakes her head.
