“Are you going to the Easter bash at my brother’s tomorrow?” Julian asked Delaney. I had agreed with Nate that I would spend the night with Delaney so he could go and enjoy his party. Alcohol, Nate and I would not end up well.
“No! There is no way I'm going anywhere near that asshole’s place. Plus, Brie and I are having a girls’ night.” She looked up at me and smiled.
Our plans included manis, pedis, classic eighties movies, and Delaney's favorite boys: Jose, Johnny, Jameson and Jim.
“Yep.” I tried to seem as excited as Delaney. “No boys allowed, sorry.”
Julian reached over to my tray and snagged the chocolate pudding I was saving for last. “Whatever. There’ll be plenty of tail at the party.” He winked at me.
“You're gross.” I smacked his arm and took my pudding back.
We dropped the conversation about Nate's Easter bash and changed it to finals that were quickly approaching.
By the end of lunch, Nate still had not replied to my message. By evening, my phone was glued to my hand. I had sent Nate three more messages and even left him a voicemail which was something I never did. Still no response. Delaney and I sat in our room folding our laundry. She chatted me up but I was distracted.
Where was Nate?
Every opportunity, I checked my phone. This was what love did to people. It made them crazy.
Delaney lowered her pink tee to her lap. “What has gotten into you today?”
“Nothing. I’m just waiting for a phone call from my mom.” I don't know why I used my mother as an excuse. She wasn't one to call unless there was an emergency. She preferred emails. Well, I preferred emails. I never had to worry about hearing my father's voice in the background when I read an email.
“Strange.” Delaney’s eyes were wide. “Your mom never calls you. Is everything okay?”
I tossed my phone on the bed and smiled at Delaney. “Yes, she's fine.” I brushed it off. “We should probably go to the grocery first thing tomorrow morning,” I added, trying to change the subject.
“Yep, that works. We can go once you're done tutoring.”
That night I tossed and turned. There was no news from Nate. No email, no call, no text. I didn't get much sleep, and by Saturday morning I was rushing to the library to see him. When he never showed, I sat back on the chair and stared blankly into the air. I guessed he was done with me and had moved on. I cursed the coward for not even telling me straight up. I wanted to march right over to his house and give him a piece of my mind but he didn't deserve that satisfaction. But I refused to let him see how much he hurt me, and decided I’d think of him fondly as a massive asshole instead.
When I met Delaney at our local grocery store, I was in a sour mood. The only thing I wanted to do was lie in bed and sulk over the fact Nate had turned out to be the guy I always thought he was. The worst part about it was that I had no one to talk to. I couldn't tell Delaney that her ex-boyfriend turned out to be a complete scum to both of us. So, when I hopped out of the car and strolled toward her, I hoped my face was as ecstatic as hers when she spotted me.
“How was the learning center?” she asked as she pulled out a shopping cart.
“It was fine.” I took the cart from her and walked toward the entrance. The supermarket was filled with fresh produce in the entrance. Bypassing the healthy choices, I pushed the cart down the aisle.
“Is everything okay?”
I shrugged. I didn't know what to say. I wasn't okay. I was hurt. My feet slid across the floor as Delaney picked up different items and placed them in our cart. I tried to stay strong, I tried to ignore my phone, but one little chime and I was digging through my purse like a savage.
When I realized it was a text message from Julian, I slammed my phone shut and tossed it back in the purse. When I pulled my gaze away from my purse and toward Delaney, I was greeted by a concerned look.
“Seriously. What is it?”
“Nothing!” I couldn’t mask my annoyance.
“Something is off with you. “
“I said nothing, Del!”
“You know what?” She slammed a package of Oreos in the cart and stopped me dead in my tracks. “I've been trying to give you your space, but you’ve been odd since last year. We don't talk like we used to. You don't tell me anything. Something is clearly bothering you but you don't want to talk to me, your best friend, so whatever.” She took her purse and tossed it over her shoulder.” Have this stupid girls’ night by your damn self.”
Delaney spun away and marched out of the supermarket.
I didn't go after her.
I should have, but there was nothing to say. I couldn't tell her I was in love with her ex-boyfriend. It was something I had to bury in my heart and never talk about it.