Fated(33)

I was ready to toss the phone on the couch beside of me when it rang, causing my heart to jump in anticipation. My mind flickered and I didn't need to look at the phone to know who was calling me. It was Georgia.

Holding the phone in my hand, I considered ignoring her. If I didn't answer, she'd just keep calling. Gritting my teeth, I answered the phone.

“Hello?” I mumbled flatly. I wasn't in the mood for small talk or to hear a lecture from her on how to handle men.

“Well hello, sunshine. Who pissed in your Wheaties?” Georgia asked, her voice sounding concerned.

“No one did, Georgia. I'm just in a crappy mood. Am I allowed to be in a crappy mood?”

There was silence on the line for a moment. “Hunky's not around, huh? Want some company?”

“Yes, I mean no. Georgia, I don't know what I want right now,” I whined, cringing at hearing Stefan referred to as 'Hunky' or even being mentioned. I hated that I was whining about anything, let alone over a man.

“I'm coming over.” Georgia hung up before I could respond. My eyes closed and I felt tears fill my eyes. Preparing myself for her arrival, I inhaled a shaky breath. I didn't want to cry in front of Georgia. I refused to let myself to break down in front of her.

A few minutes later I heard the door open and my mind was immediately flooded with Georgia's emotions. She was hesitant, angry and worried. I quickly slammed my shield down so I didn't have to deal with her emotions on top of my own.

Glancing down at my hands, I noticed I was still clutching Stefan's t-shirt. I quickly shoved it behind the pillow beside of me and hoped that her observant eyes hadn't zeroed in on it.

“Hun, what's going on?” Georgia walked over to sit down on the couch next to me, putting her hand on my knee. I raised my head to look at Georgia with tired eyes, not trusting myself to speak.

I wasn't sure I could do this right now.

We sat in silence for a long time, neither of us saying a word. Georgia said nothing, only occasionally reaching over to rub my knee or pat my arm sympathetically. I glanced at the time on my phone again. It was almost six o'clock. I wondered if this day was ever going to end, or if it was going to be a never-ending nightmare of waiting for the phone to ring or for him to return.

“You gotta tell me something, Josie. Did you and Stefan have a fight?” Georgia asked. She rubbed my arm softly, sighing heavily. She was obviously at a loss as to what to do or say and I wasn't giving her much to work with.

Shaking my head, my voice sounded monotone when I spoke. “A fight,” I snorted, running my fingers through my tangled hair for what had to be the 50th time of the day. “No, I don't know what the hell is going on, Georgia. Normally if he goes somewhere, he leaves me a note. There's no note. He's gone,” I paused for a moment as the realization of my own words sunk in. My voice cracked when I was finally able to speak again. “He's gone.”

“Honey, he could be at the store. Or home. Maybe he's running errands or doing something besides being up your ass.” Georgia waved her hand in dismissal. “Men are a dime a dozen. There's a hundred of him out there, Josie. You shouldn't be tied down anyway. You're young and…”

“I don't want a hundred other men,” I snapped, my eyes stinging with tears. “I want him. I finally find him and now he's gone.”

“Holy fucking hell. You love him?” Georgia asked, her voice incredulous and raising in volume. “You love him?! Josie, what the fuck?”

I went silent again. He'd left me, just like everyone else. I should have known it would happen. I shouldn't have trusted my foolish heart that he wouldn't leave me. My head fell back against the back of the couch, feeling weariness and the bitterness of betrayal wash over me.

Georgia finally rose to her feet and disappeared into the kitchen. I vaguely heard her talking on her phone to someone, her voice was barely above a whisper. She was probably tired of the silent treatment I was dishing out. To be honest, I really didn't care if I talked to anyone again. I closed my eyes and my mind went numb, losing track of reality and time.

Hearing a knock on the door, I jumped to my feet and nearly ripped the door off its hinges in my haste to open it. I was expecting to see Stefan on the other side of the door and I felt my face break into a smile. It quickly faded when I saw it was Anna on the porch, her face pensive as she stared back at me. I simply turned around and left Anna standing in the doorway to flop back down on the couch, cradling my head in my hands.

Their conversation as it went on around me and I made no effort to contribute. I sat sullenly on the couch in my bathrobe, my insides feeling like they were being tortuously ripped apart.

“How long has she been like this?” I heard Anna ask in a hushed tone.