The weekend flies by, with studying for finals and coming over to play with Gryff. Fortunately, Drew works all weekend, so we don’t have to pretend while we’re together. He continues wallowing around when he’s home, so I do my best to cheer him up and casually mention Courtney in conversation. As expected, he doesn’t take the bait, so I’m left watching him mope on the couch instead.
By Tuesday night, Drew is so damn anxious; I can’t take it anymore. Mia is to arrive any minute, and like usual, I sit on the couch, pretending to act indifferent. Travis has been bringing some of his work files home to look busy while Drew is home.
“Dude, drink this,” I hear Travis say. I look up and see him handing Drew a shot. “You’re wound up tighter than a G-string. You need to relax.”
“I’m trying,” he says through clenched teeth, taking the shot and finally pouring it down his throat. “But I haven’t seen her in so long, and I have no idea what she’s going to say, which is making me anxious as hell.”
He pats him on the shoulder and pours more whiskey in his shot glass. “Whatever happens, man, I’ll be here, okay?”
“Thanks.” He pours it down and holds it back out for a refill.
Tires crunch in the driveway, and we all look toward the door. Goose bumps cover my skin, and I can’t help feeling nervous for Drew.
“Do you guys mind staying out here while we talk in my room?”
“Whatever you need,” Travis answers, walking toward Gryff and me on the couch. You can barely see the front door from the couch.
We both sit silently, waiting to hear the first exchange. Drew opens the door, and we wait. Finally, footsteps enter the house. Her heels click on the hardwood floor as Drew wraps his arms around her for an awkward hug.
“How was the drive over?” I hear him ask. She mumbles a quietnot bad, and soon Drew is leading her down the hall to his room and then a click of the door.
I glance over at Travis who looks like he’s sweating and about to vomit. Even though I’ve told him—and myself—over and over that I trust him and that we’re going to make it work when I’m gone, I can’t deny the heavy feeling inside my chest that something isn’t right. Part of me regrets not hearing the whole story of that night, but proving I trusted him was crucial for our relationship.
We sit in silence as we watch the TV on a low volume. Gryff is asleep in my lap, and the sound of Drew swinging his bedroom door open startles him awake.
“King!”
I jump at the volume of his voice. He’s not pissed; he’senraged.
Travis jumps up and starts walking toward them. As much as I want to follow, I stay put. I don’t need to bring attention to the fact that I’m following Travis or that I’m eavesdropping on them.
“The fuck?” I hear Drew shout. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Finally, I can’t take it any longer and set Gryff aside as I stand. I tiptoe out of the living room and down the hall where I can hear Mia crying and Drew yelling.
“That’s not how it happened,” I hear Travis say, defensive and short.
I take another few steps until I can peek through the door gap and look inside.
“Then please enlighten me.” Drew crosses his arms over his chest, his feet planted firmly on the floor, ready for a fight. “Explain how your lips landed on my girlfriend’s.”
My eyes widen as I unintentionally release a loud gasp. All three of them turn their heads toward me, and before I can control it, tears start falling down my cheeks. Drew pushes the door open wider, so the four of us are now in an awkward circle.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” Mia asks with a scoff. Her face is red, and her cheeks are puffy, but I don’t believe her fake performance one bit.
“I heard yelling. I was just making sure everything was okay.”
“Everything’s fine, Viola,” Travis says, but I refuse to look him in the eyes.
Drew cocks his head and studies my face, and I know he can see right through me. “You’ve got to befuckingkidding me!” he roars, turning his head toward Travis. “Kissing my girlfriend wasn’t enough, you had to nail my sister, too?”
Oh my God.
Thud.
My heart is pounding so hard; I bet they can all feel it. too.
And as if that revelation wasn’t enough, Mia speaks up once again. “Oh, he tried more than that. Why do you think I was stripped down to my panties?” The words leave her mouth, and I instantly want to pummel her into the ground.
