“We do in the sense that he holds me in bed, but we haven’t had sex since the accident. And he’s not chatty then either. He says he’s tired and wants to think through his upcoming game.”
She takes a bite of her salad. “I’m a terrible rug sweeper sometimes, so take this with a grain of salt because it’s easy for me to tell you what to do. But I would probably sit him down and tell him how you feel, or at least what you’ve noticed, and see what he says. Because it’s obviously eating away at you.”
I rub my clammy hands on my jeans. “We don’t have that much time together before I leave, and I don’t want to waste it.”
She gives me a sympathetic smile. “And you’re hoping he falls in love with you in the meanwhile.”
“Well, of course.” We both laugh. “All right. Enough about me. How are things going with Marcus?”
She shrugs. “It’s okay. He works a lot and socializes with his friends more than I’m comfortable with, but I guess no relationship is perfect. I’m not in a position to complain since I have cheer practice every night and games every Saturday.” After nibbling on her food, she waves her fork. “He’s just never free when I am. Unless he wants sex, and then he’s available. But why couldn’t he take me to the Nut Festival last weekend? Because he wanted to grab pizza with his bros and bitch about fantasy football.”
“I’ve never understood the obsession with fantasy football.”
“Thank you.”
I check my phone. “I’d better eat. I have a doctor appointment in a bit.”
Concern etches her face. “Is everything okay?”
“I want to switch birth control because I’ve been getting headaches. I’m not sure if that’s the answer, but I’d like to try that rather than popping ibuprofen all the time.”
Loud laughter on the other side of the room makes us turn.
Paige looks at me. “Now’s your chance to talk to Nick.”
He’s with several football players and a few girls from the cheer squad. “Ugh, why is Tiffany always hanging around them?”
“Just ignore her. Go on over there and tell him you need to chat for a minute, and then drag his ass outside.”
I push my glasses up my face. “Thanks. I appreciate the play-by-play because I never know what to do in social situations.” I shove my food back in my bag and tug on my jacket. “Here goes nothing.”
“You got this.”
I make my way across the cafeteria.
When I reach the guys, Dax elbows Nick, then smiles at me. “Hey.”
“Hi, Dax.”
When Nick sees me, his face goes blank. There’s no smile or light in his eyes. It hurts. I swallow and motion behind me. “Can I talk to you a minute?”
Somehow, Tiffany manages to cut across the group and hook her arm through his. “Nick’s busy. Make yourself useful and go wait tables at Moe’s.”
Nick growls. “Stop being such a bitch to everyone, Tiffany.”
She gasps, and he shakes her off.
I’m momentarily comforted when he puts his hand on my back as we walk away. I don’t stop until we’re outside. But as soon as we’re alone, he drops his hand.
Awkwardly, I point to a bench.
He nods, but doesn’t sit right next to me and throw his arm over my shoulders. No, he settles on the opposite side and turns to face me. “What’s up?”
I want to go for subtle, but I’m a geyser of word vomit and hurt feelings. “What’s up? You mean aside from you being M.I.A. all week? I mean, sure, you’re around, but even when you’re with me, you’re a thousand miles away. Talk to me, Nick. I thought we were friends.”
He looks away. “It’s been a rough week.”
I wait for him to expand on that, and when he doesn’t, I sigh. It’s like that, huh? “I’m going to make this simple for both of us because I don’t like playing games. Are you saying I’ve overstayed my welcome and you want me to move out? Or that you don’t want to hook up anymore? Because I can have my things out tonight.”
