Page 74 of Tattoo My Heart
“Yes.”
Carrie lets out a long puff of air as she thinks things over.
“Evie, I hate to tell you…”
I have a bad feeling about whatever she’s about to tell me.
“I think Cal was right.”
“Right about what?” I sound offended even to my own ears.
“Don’t get mad, okay?” Carrie’s voice softens, sounding like she is talking to a little kid. “But you really were trying to two time him, except that now it’s backfiring because you were messaging him all along without realizing it.”
“But I… Him… He…” I have no idea what I’m trying to say.
“He knew it was you, and when he was responding to your messages, it’s not like he was asking a stranger out,” Carrie explains it to me like I am five.
My brain is finally ready to acknowledge the mess I got myself into.
“Ugh,” I throw myself against the back of the couch. “I was messaging a stranger…”
“While also being with Cal every day,” Carrie finishes my thought. I can hear the pity and sympathy in her voice.
“I really messed this up.” My voice is back to being shaky.
“Well, in all honesty, you both did,” Carrie declares. “I have no idea what possessed him to go through with this app. Why didn’t he just come right out and talk to you?”
My eyes focus on a spot on the floor, and my brain is trying to remember everything that Cal said to me before he left.
“He wanted to be my date for the Fourth of July party,” I whisper into the phone. My voice sounds weak and like I am on the verge of crying. “He didn’t want me to go with anyone else.”
“Awww, honey…” I hate the pity I hear in Carrie’s voice. I hate it so much.
We both fall quiet for a while. I don’t know what else to say, and she doesn’t want to make me feel worse.
There’s some commotion sounding from her end, a door opening and closing, signaling James’ arrival. I can tell when Carrie puts the phone away because their voices sound muffled, but I can still hear what they’re saying.
“I’m on the phone with Evie,” Carrie explains in a quiet tone. “She and Cal are going through a rough patch…”
“Is it about that damn app?”
My ears perk up at James’ question.
“I regret the day I told Cal about that damn thing,” he continues.
My mouth drops in shock. I bring my phone down from my ear and blink rapidly as I stare at it. What is he saying?
“James…” Carrie’s tone sounds chastising. “You told Cal about Evie signing up for the app?”
“I did,” James confesses. “I didn’t expect it to turn into this whole circus though.”
“I can’t believe you never told me about this.” My best friend sounds offended, matching my own energy at the moment.
“I can’t believe it either,” I yell into the phone, hoping they can hear me.
“Oh shit,” Carrie mumbles. “I thought I’d muted it.”
“Your boyfriend is an asshole,” I yell again.
