It’s been three days since Veronica’s slept over. Today will be the fourth.

We’ve talked on the phone, and sent a few text messages, but that’s it. When I asked her later that day if she was coming back, she said she should stay home, since they’d just returned home from their trip. Okay, I can understand that.

The second day, she said she was busy. She’s helping Tomás out with paperwork for their father’s company. I wish I knew if it was because of the incident with Lana. I told her Lana left the apartment a few hours later, but it didn’t seem to help. Yesterday, she had plans with Cindy and Izzy. They wanted to hang out before we all start getting too busy with the new semester. Taylor wants a final beach party this weekend, so I told Veronica, and she finally said she’d come.

“Hey, Micah,” Clare calls out, as I reorganize a set of weights.

It’s a slow day at the gym and Clare is a new hire. It’s her third day. She usually works the front desk and answers the phone. One of the reasons Taylor wants to have a party is because he’s already eyeing her. I told him it’s not a good idea to go out with someone we work with, but he just shrugged it off.

“What’s up, Clare?”

“Um, there’s a girl at the front desk asking for you?”

“Oh, yeah?” I perk up, raising my eyebrows and smiling.

I asked if Veronica wanted to come over tonight or at least have lunch on my lunch break, but I hadn’t heard anything back from her yet. She must’ve surprised me.

Clare nods with a grin. “Is that your girlfriend? Veronica?”

I start to head to the front of the gym but look back at her with a puzzled expression. I don’t remember telling her about Veronica.

“Sorry, Taylor was talking to me yesterday. Said you’re crazy for settling down already. But she’s gorgeous.”

I let out a laugh. “Taylor would say something like that. But yeah, she is gorgeous. Thank you. Speaking of Taylor, though, you gonna make the beach party this weekend?”

“Yeah.” She nods in excitement.

“Cool.”

I walk through the frosted glass doors separating the front desk area and the gym, eager to see Veronica, but the excitement deflates. It’s Lana.

My words come out harsh and fast. “What the hell are you doing here?”

She doesn’t respond to my tone, nor my demeanor. Ignoring both, she walks closer and grabs my arm, smiling. “I just wanted to thank you again.”

“Fine. You’re welcome. Now leave.”

My eyes twitch over toward Clare, who looks nervous. She turns and walks back toward the frosted doors and into the gym area.

“Don’t do that,” Lana reprimands me, still holding my arm.

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t act like a jerk, Micah. That’s not you. You’re not an asshole.”

I yank my arm away from her, then quickly brush by her toward the front doors. “You’re right, I’m not. Except when it comes to you. And do you want to know why? Because you made me like this, Lana. You did this. Are you happy with the monster you created, Dr. Frankenstein?”

I push open the front doors, motioning with my hand for her to leave. I’m expecting her to put up an argument or act like a grumpy three-year-old and throw a tantrum—I’ve seen it before—but she doesn’t do either of those things. Instead, she nods slowly, letting out a sigh, and walks toward the door.

Stopping at the entrance, she raises a hand to my cheek, her blue eyes striking mine. “I’m sorry, Micah. I’ll apologize every day if I have to.”

“You don’t have to, Lana. Because it won’t make any difference. You could apologize twenty-four hours a day, every day for the rest of your life, and it still wouldn’t make any difference.”

“Please …” Her voice cracks, but I don’t know if she’s crying or not, because she leans closer, wrapping her arms around me, burying her face in my neck.

“There are no pleases. Not anymore. Do you remember what I said the first time? After I caught you at the party?” I feel her nod. “It felt like you broke me. You broke my trust. I put myself back together, and I don’t know why, but I gave you another chance. And you did it again. Only this time, my trust didn’t just break, it obliterated. And if I’m perfectly honest, I’m still trying to pick up those shattered pieces.”

“But I can change. I promise you, I can change.”

“I don’t care, Lana. I’m sorry, but I don’t. I don’t care if you become Mother Teresa. How am I supposed to trust you now? I can’t. It’s impossible. You chased me in high school, and it was flattering. It really was. I was this geeky, art kid, and you were a bombshell. You still are. But then you messed up. I was over it. And you know what you did? You chased me again. And I fell for it. Again.”

“Fell for it?” She finally looks up, and I see the tears running down her cheeks. “It wasn’t a game, Micah.”

“But it was.” All of my hate and hurt are draining out. I raise up my hand, wiping away her tears. I remember holding her face like I am now, kissing her and feeling like I didn’t need anything else. Now I know I need something else. I need someone else. “You might have not thought it was or realized it. But if you think about it, if you really think about it, you’ll see it’s always been a game to you, Lana. You like the chase. You want to prove it to yourself.”

“That’s not true.”

I honestly can’t believe what I’m about to say, but I know I have to. She might not see it, but I knew her back then. I know her now. I know exactly what’s she’s like.

“Really?” I take a deep breath. “That guy I caught you with at Matt’s—” I stop, forcing myself to get through this. “When I caught you … tell me, had he already helped you out?”

Her eyes fall away, her face dejected.

“See? You got what you wanted? I bet you even chased him that night.”

“Micah, I really was drunk that night. We took—”

“I don’t care.” Another deep breath. She’s making me relive all of these memories, but maybe if I can get through to her, she’ll see. “You weren’t drunk on your birthday, were you?”

She looks away. “No.”

“And that idiot, he never knew what hit him, did he? Do you even remember his name?”

“Kevin. He …” Her tears are falling, but for the first time, it’s not over me. I think she’s starting to see. “He had a girlfriend. I hit on him when she went to the bathroom.”

“Jesus, Lana.”

She stands in front of me, her hands pressed to my chest, silent tears falling. For a moment, I think I’ve finally gotten through to her. Then, she wipes her tears away, her gaze locking back on mine. “But I know I was wrong, Micah. That’s what I’m trying to prove to you. I messed up, but I won’t mess up anymore. I don’t want to do that anymore. I want you.”

I can’t yell or scream or even sigh in frustration. Instead, I chuckle. I actually chuckle because I seriously can’t believe she thinks she can fix what she broke.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes, Micah. I can’t live without you. I know that now. I screwed up, but I’m going to make this right.” Raising a hand to my cheek, she offers me the faintest smile. “I will.”

“Micah?”

Looking behind the door I’m in front of, I turn and see Veronica. She’s holding what looks like two drinks and a large paper bag. Lunch. Her eyes find mine, before floating over to Lana. Her face drops and then she spins on her heels, walking away.

“Shit.” I push Lana away and run over to her. “Veronica, hold on.”

“No, it’s fine,” she calls back. “Whatever.”

“What? What’s fine? Veronica, wait.” I finally get in front of her. “Would you just please stop?”

“Micah, I can’t do this.” Her words tremble.

I grab the sodas and bag from her, setting them on the ground, and then wrap my arms around her. She keeps her arms up, pressed against my chest, a barrier between us. “Please, that wasn’t anything. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“You say that, but …”

I bring my hands to her face. “Vero, that was nothing. She showed up again, trying to apologize. Please, this entire week, ever since I picked her up, everything’s felt off. Please, Vero, talk to me. That was nothing, okay? I love you, you know I do. What’s going on?” She shakes her head. “Please, Veronica, talk to me.”

“I—” Her words cut off. “I … I can’t.”

She finally drops her arms, wrapping them around me, and I pull her closer. I don’t see Lana anywhere. I’m not sure how much she saw or heard, but I don’t care. Keeping my arms around her, I gently kiss her hair. Taylor pops his head out of the door, looking over at me. He silently asks if everything is okay, but I honestly have no idea.