I’m finally alone.
I keep busy by making up my new bed and start unpacking. I went out and splurged on a new bedsheet set to mark the occasion. Fresh sheets for a fresh start and all that.
I walk through the apartment, locking the front and back doors. I even check the windows for good measure. After securing everything, I wash up and get ready for bed.
I’m tucking myself into bed before the tears fall. The heavy weight of loneliness, a leaden pressure in my chest, finally pushed me over the edge.
I lay there, tears falling silently, as I finally let the events of the past six weeks catch up to me. My heart aches with the loss of my relationship. It was devastating to come to terms with the fact that I had lost the place I had cherished as home for years. Even acknowledging Logan’s flaws, losing my best friend still devastates me.
I know everything happens for a reason, but at this moment, I’m finding it hard to find the reason my life imploded so spectacularly.
10
emily
Ben texted he was bringing the furniture and asked me to unlock the door so he and Jason could bring it inside. I rush through the apartment to make sure that the guys have enough space to bring the furniture in. I spent the better part of the weekend unpacking my things and trying to make the space feel like a home. Unfortunately, there are boxes and random crap strewn about everywhere.
When Ben and Jason finally show up, I’m a sweaty mess. I open the front door for them as they unload the truck they borrowed. As I wave to Ben and Jason in greeting, I feel my phone vibrate.
I pull out my phone to see that I have a text from Logan telling me he’s on the way to the apartment with the dresser that I couldn’t fit in my truck. Of course, Logan just expects me to be here waiting for him. Unfortunately for him, I have to head out for my hair appointment shortly, and I’m not missing it just because Logan dropped by unannounced. I leave him on read and tuck my phone into the side pocket of my leggings.
Ben and Jason have the couch balanced between them, and they slowly make their way to the front door. I make eye contact with Ben, and we smile at each other in greeting.
“Morning, roomie,” Ben says to me as he makes his way past me.
“Oh, hey, roomie,” I say back to him. My voice comes out a little too breathy to me.
I follow them up the stairs to the apartment so they can deposit the couch in its rightful place in the living room.
“Are you guys good without me? I have to leave in a minute for my hair appointment.” Ben nods at me. I let him know Logan is dropping by with my dresser while I’m out. His gaze scours my face at the news. I’m not sure what he sees, but after a moment, he nods tersely.
“Just tell Logan to leave it in the dining room until I can make space for it in my bedroom,” I instruct as I head out to leave.
“You got it, boss,” Ben replies as I walk out the door.
I turn around and give him a wave, and he gives me a sarcastic salute. I ignore the way my stomach does a nervous flip-flop at his playful gesture.
I’m sitting at the salon where Maria, my hairdresser and best friend, is in the process of coloring my hair when I feel my phone vibrate with a text message. We went bold and added some blonde and caramel highlights to my otherwise naturally dark hair. I’ve tried to go blonde once, and it didn’t go well with my caramel complexion. Plus, I found I didn’t have more fun as a blonde than I did as a brunette.
I look at my phone and find a notification that Logan has sent me a few messages.
“I met your roommate.”
“You didn’t tell me your new roommate was a guy.”
“Are you seriously living with another dude already?”
“WTF, Emily.”
“How much do you really know about that guy?”
“Answer me.”
I frown as I read his messages. I guess I never told him about my new living arrangements, but since he had been acting like an emotionless robot ever since he broke things off with me, I assumed he didn’t care or needed to know.
He can’t be… jealous about it, can he? I mean, I guess it’s a possibility, and it makes me feel a little sense of relief to know that if he is jealous, then that means he didn’t completely stop caring for me.
“I guess you met Ben.” I hit send and then put my phone away. Although, technically, he knows Ben from past house parties, they’ve only exchanged pleasantries, so it’s not like Ben is a complete stranger to him.
