Page 2 of Holiday Romance
“Andrew?”
“Your boyfriend,” I remind her, wincing at the thought of her getting it on in my clothes. They’ve been together for a few months and I’ve barely seen him without her tongue down his throat. I chatted with him the first time we met, both of us pleased to find another Irish person so far from home, but I don’t think Hayley liked the thought of us bonding and she’s made a point of keeping us apart ever since. To be honest, I’m starting to think she doesn’t like anyone in her life doing something that isn’t solely with her. But now that jealous streak is nowhere to be found as she hums down the line.
“What?” I ask, knowing it’s exactly what she wants me to do.
“I’m thinking about breaking up with him.” She says the words casually like he’s an old pair of shoes she’s considering throwing out.
“Since when? I thought you liked him?”
“I did.” A pause. “He makes a lot of jokes.”
I roll my eyes as I start walking again, weaving through the other travelers.
“But I couldn’t dump him right before the holidays,” she continues. “I’m not a monster.”
“No, you’re right. Cold, dark January will be much better.” Poor guy. He seemed perfectly fine the few times we’ve talked. Or maybe it’s loyalty to a fellow countryman that’s making me feel so bad. “Where are you going tonight?”
“Dinner with Rob.” She’s barely able to hide her glee. “We hooked up last night after he—”
“What?”
“Billy’s friend.”
“No, I know who Rob is,” I say, picturing the muscly frat boy who’s been slobbering over her. “What do you mean you hooked up?”
“We went back to his after Kendra’s thing and, Molly, you would notbelievewhat he can do with his—”
“So, you ended things with Andrew?” I interrupt, confused.
“I said I’m thinking about that.”
…Yeah, I need new friends. “You cheated on him?”
“It’s not cheating if I’m going to break up with him.”
“Yes, it is!”
“Oh myGod,” she groans. “This is not a big deal.”
“You need to break up with him if you’re seeing someone else, Hayley. It’s cruel.”
“Alright,” she huffs. “Fine. I’ll do it now.”
“No, notnow. Wait until classes start back.”
“But you just said—”
“I know what I said.” I tug my suitcase closer to my body as I step onto one of the automatic walkways, catching my reflection in the mirrored wall opposite and schooling the heavy scowl I find there into something more public-friendly. Maybe she was right the first time, who wants to get dumped on Christmas Eve? “How about you don’t see Rob from now until you do?”
“But I’m seeing him tonight,” she says, like I’m an idiot. “Look, if it’s such a big deal to you, I’ll message Andrew.”
“Hayley, you can’t!” I snap, freaking out at the thought of her breaking up with him over text. I don’t even know the guy that well, but there’s such a thing as common decency.
There’s silence on the other end of the line and I think she’s finally realized how shitty that would be when she snorts. “Okay,Mom.”
“Hayley—”
“I’ve got to go.” Her tone changes to one of supreme boredom. “I’ll see you when you get back.”
