Page 85 of Wrench
insignificant compared to my current problems. Then I realized, that was my excuse. ¡°I
mean¡¡± Mock sadness grew in my eyes. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with me. I
think the break-up has hit me hard this week¡ I really miss him, Dad.¡±
Compassion filled my dad¡¯s face, and he gave a tender smile. ¡°I know, honey. These
things come in waves. One day you think you¡¯re doing better, the next¡ well.¡± He looked
at my uncharacteristically messy room. ¡°Everything goes down the drain. It gets better,
though.¡±
I nodded. Even though he wasn¡¯t in the loop about my real issues, his words still
helped. I hadn¡¯t believed him when he said I¡¯d move on from Travis, but there I was,
pretending to cry about him. ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡±
Once he went back downstairs, I flopped back to my pillows. My phone vibrated across
the bed and I dove for it, hoping maybe it was from who I hoped it was from.
¡°Dammit.¡± Just an email for a sale of twenty percent off from one of my favorite
stores. Shrugging, I saved the coupon onto my phone before resuming my place under the
blanket. Maybe some online shopping would mend my confused heart.
Part of me was relieved Isaac hadn¡¯t texted me. I didn¡¯t even want to be tempted by
him. After the tattooed guy, I knew Isaac was far more dangerous than he let on. I¡¯d be
insane to risk meeting him again.
Yet the other part of me ached with rejection and longing. When he said such sweet
words on the balcony, about wanting to continue to talk with me, he sounded so genuine.
And when he dropped me off, it didn¡¯t seem like Isaac had any inkling someone he knew
followed me, so did that mean he simply didn¡¯t want to see me? What had I done wrong?
I thought we had an amazing time. What was the point of asking me to stay? Why didn¡¯t
he let me leave before I grew more attached? Was it really all about sex?
A stab surged through my heart and I pressed my palms to my eyes, and quietly, but
full of rage, I muttered, ¡°Fuck my stupid fucking shitty life.¡± Cussing released a bit of my
frustration, and I breathed, reminding myself to do it more often.
As a couple tears threatened to shed from the release, I thought back to my house in
Sturgis with Travis. For the first time that week, I did miss him. I missed how
comfortable things were, how easy¡ Sure, he was a cheating dick, but he truly was safe.
