Grey and I left the minute he woke up and found his clothes. Oddly enough, they were hanging off the chandelier in front of the stairs. He had to use two brooms taped together to get them down. I wondered how they got up there, but my brain, once again, betrayed me and offered absolutely no memory. I just don’t understand how my mind draws up a complete blank sheet whenever I try to find memories of last night. It’s like someone dragged an eraser over the foggy details.
I spent that day dealing with the worst hangover I have ever experienced. I felt a little disconnected overall, but especially with Grey. I didn’t mean to, but after my little interaction with Noah, I was left stunned and unsure of myself. The guilt that hit me in the gut was overwhelming; it still has me reeling back for balance. I was so focused on Grey, even when Noah and I were sort of a thing, I didn’t take into considerations how he would feel. I truly never meant to put him in any pain or make it seem like I didn’t care about him; I did and I still do. I just wasn’t done with Grey and forced him into my life. I was selfish.
I want to make things all right between us. I won’t be able to move on without repairing our friendship. It wouldn’t be right if I just went on about my life with him feeling so angry and hurt by me. I am not the type of girl who fools around with boys and leaves them in the dust after I grow tired of them. I develop feelings and care for people.
Plus, Noah deserves to know why and how hard it was having Grey re-enter my life after I thought he and I were done. I had no idea we’d reconnect the way we did in Venezuela. If I could go back in time and warn him, I would. And I would also warn myself of the feelings bursting to life once again that nearly rendered me incomprehensible.
It is now the morning after my horrid hangover, though there are still some remnants, like the slight headache and dryness of my mouth. But I guess I deserve to suffer for hurting someone so close to me who didn’t deserve any of the heartache I caused him. I just rub my temples and take yet another pain medication.
I lean on the kitchen counter, staring at my phone, pondering over the text I have typed to Noah.
Liv: Can we please talk? At the very least, I would like to fix our friendship. Xxxx.
The question is: Is it good enough? Would he even reply? Judging how he left before I could utter a word of explanation, I would say no. But I also know him well enough to assume that he did feel something for me. And it didn’t even have to be romantically. We were friends, and I know somewhere deep inside of him, he wants an explanation, even if he thinks it’s BS. I just need one chance to speak to him, to explain.
“Hey, you okay?” Grey’s raspy voice breaks my thoughts. I look up. He struts into the kitchen, yawning, and I quickly hit send. Now, all that’s left to do is pray he lets me talk to him properly.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I smile, but he doesn’t seem to buy it.
“Sure you are. Really, what’s up?” He leans on his elbows and exhales roughly, dark eyes watching me, examining my features.
I play with my charms and shrug noncommittally. “There is nothing up,” I answer him, and he hums, tilting his head. “Nothing but the, uh, s-sky,” I accidentally stammer. I’m sorry, but I crack under pressure when he is staring at me like this.
“Very funny,” he says, and I spare a glance at him. He’s chewing on his cheek but sits down on the stool and lets out a deep breath. “What’s for breakfast?” he asks, gratefully changing the subject.
I knew there was a reason I loved him.
“You’re looking at it.” I point at the ceramic bowl of Frosted Flakes in front of his folded, tatted arms.
He looks down at it and pushes it away with a look of disgust. “Yuck. I was expecting more of a glamorous meal for your glamorous, hard-working boyfriend.” He raises his arms and looks at me pointedly, like he’s disappointed.
I narrow my eyes at his expectation of me cooking at his whim. I am not a housewife, but his girlfriend. There is a major difference between the two. “Too bad. There is barely anything in the fridge, so your glamorous breakfast will have to wait until the fridge is stocked with food I can actually work with, because ketchup, an onion, and a box of popsicles aren’t going to cut it.”
“Fine.” He draws the word out and digs in his jeans pocket. “Have fun shopping.” He places his car keys on the counter next to my hand.
I lean over and flick him in the head, causing him to groan. “You’re coming with me, jerk.” To think he thinks I’m his maid. I glare at the audacity and round the counter.
“Prude!” he calls after me.
I hold up my middle finger. I speed up to the bedroom when I hear him running after me. I squeal and move to close the door after me, but he has fast reflexes and grabs me by my waist, tossing me over his broad shoulder.
“What was that, princess?” he questions, pinching my butt.
“Ow! Let me down, you barbarian!” I demand, biting back the laughter.
“Okay.” He drops me onto the bed.
“Rude!” I shout at his back as he strides out of the room.
“Nerd!” he sing-songs back.
I stick my tongue out at him and roll it rapidly like a temperamental child. I can practically hear the skid marks as there is a pause.
“What was that?” He comes back in the room with a crazed look, but I don’t miss the smile ghosting his lips.
“Nothing! No! Grey, we have to get ready!” I scream, but it goes unheard as he picks me up, and all of my worries and hangover vanish the second he makes me come alive with his silliness.
***
“Grey, we do not need a pack of gummy worms,” I say for the millionth time as he brings them over to shove in my face. I kind of wish I had never learned he loved them as a child. Now that obsession has exploded up again, right in my face. That’s what I get trying to be a good girlfriend.
“You may not need it, but I certainly do,” he says, tossing the huge bag in the grocery cart. He ignores my glare as he leans against the cart, watching as I pick up a large bottle of milk. “Are you cold or am I so good you’re just turned on by my presence?” he asks with a cocky smirk and an even cockier waggle of his eyebrows.
I look down at my thin white t-shirt and gasp, covering my chest. “Shut up. We’re in the frozen area.”
“Sure, keep telling yourself that.” He winks at me.
I blush and thrust the long list into his hand. “Go get the items that are in the next aisle while I get the others, please.”
“Fine,” he groans like I’m sending him off on a mission to trek the Sahara Desert. He walks over to me and kisses my cheek. “You’re lying about the nips, and we both know it,” he whispers in my ear, and I gasp.
“Leave, Grey!” I push him away, and he bursts into laughter. He winks at me one more time before disappearing round the aisle. I can still hear his obnoxious laughter. With flushed cheeks, I grab whatever is left I need from this horrid section and wheel out of the aisle.
I hum a random song as I guide the cart down to the meat section. I tap my chin as I check out every meat I want and decide on a whole chicken, ground beef, steak, and a few more things. After that, I venture out to the junk food aisle with much distaste. I would much rather munch on lettuce or bite into a fresh apple than eat these processed…things. But Grey loves chips and these types of foods, so who am I to turn down getting them for the house? I pick up a few of his favorite chips, candies, and other assortments I have never heard of. He is quite the junkie; you would have never expected it by taking a single glance at his ripped muscles.
I enter the aisle that has pasta when I accidentally bump into another cart.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I am quick to say. “I didn’t see you—Noah?”
Am I hallucinating, or is he really standing in front of me?
Noah’s eyes widen when they meet mine. “Liv…what are you doing here?” I squint my eyes and glance at my filled shopping cart. He looks at it too, then laughs. “Right.” I glance at his half-filled cart then look back into his assessing eyes. “You’re living with him now, right…?” It kind of sounds like an accusation.
I feel myself blush. “Something like that, yeah.” I nervously play with my charms, and he smiles with a nod.
Silence lingers between us while I try to figure out what to say. Obviously, there is a lot, but none makes sense. Finally, I find two words that should get the ball rolling.
“I’m sorry,” I say, but he blurts it out at the same time.
We laugh, and I gesture for him to go first. It’s the least I can do.
“I am really sorry for yesterday,” he says with a little disappointed sigh.
“What? You have nothing to be sorry for.” I am the one in the wrong.
“Yes, I do, for being rude by walking out while you were talking,” he explains and takes a really deep breath, rolling his shoulders before shoving his thumbs in his jean shorts’ front pockets. “I was just really upset. I just…I really liked you, Liv.” I look away, guilty. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want us to be friends.”
I look at him and gape for a few seconds, shocked. “I’d love that! There’s nothing more I want than fixing what I stupidly broke.” I pull on my lip, a habit I unintentionally inherited from Grey. I drop my hand and find my voice. “I—I was really selfish for what I did. I betrayed you and didn’t consider your feelings…and for that I am eternally apologetic. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I really didn’t…will you ever be able to forgive me?”
His green eyes turn a tad dark as he licks his lips, contemplating. Then he breaks out into a grin and laughs. “Yes, I will need some time to heal. You hurt me, but please, don’t feel bad.”
“Of course. I understand.” I nod and fight the urge to hug him. I feel tears form in my eyes, but I just tug at my bracelet and look at his cart. “So, what are you doing at the supermarket?”
He follows my gaze and blushes. “Oh, just doing some shopping with someone.”
“Who’s that someone?” I ask playfully, but I hope I’m not pushing our barely forming friendship.
“Her name is Kelly; I met her a week after we, you know, broke it off.” He nervously scratches the back of his neck, and I smile forcibly.
“That’s amazing…so is it serious?” I glance at the cart, and he shakes his head.
“We’re not living together or anything like that, just helping out,” he explains and nods. “She’s a really sweet girl. She’s actually a lifeguard. We met on the beach while I was eating my broken feelings in an ice cream cone.”
I rub my arm. “Whoops.”
He chuckles. “I will heal, I promise. I’m a tough nut to crack.”
“Well, I would love to meet her one day—she sounds nice.”
That sounds awkward.
“Maybe one day.” He laughs, and I blush even harder.
“What do we have here?” a familiar voice drawls as a hand snakes around my hips.
“Grey, so nice to see you,” Noah says with utter sarcasm, a forced smile curving his hips.
“I wish I could say the same, but my very polite girlfriend says it’s bad to lie,” he quips back, gripping my hip possessively and kissing my hair while shooting Noah a mocking grin. I drown in his cologne and cigarette smell, but I don’t smile at the bittersweet scent. I glare at his chest then soften my expression toward Noah.
“Right, well, I’ll see you around, Liv.” Noah nods at me.
“Goodbye, Noah.” I smile widely at him and nod back at him.
He casts a single uneasy glance at Grey, then turns and wheels out of the aisle.
The minute I’m sure he’s gone, I turn and smack Grey in the chest.
“Are you serious?” I hiss-whisper at him, since there are a few customers around us.
“What?” He sounds and looks annoyed with me.
“You know what.” I jab a finger at his chest, and he rolls his eyes like I’m a pestering fly.
“I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about,” he booms down at me through gritted teeth.
“Then how about you figure out what I’m talking about while you check the food out. I’ll be waiting in the car,” I snap, fed up with his childish behavior. I quickly dig his car keys out of his jacket pocket and storm away before he can stop me. He can be such an asshole sometimes!