I grab a pair of joggers and tug them on while listening to Rachel bitch. “Just because your fat fuck of an ex is in your room doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. Besides, she already left.”
I need to get my ass down the steps before Willa leaves the house, but I can't let those shit comments go. With one glance at the door, I turn back to Rachel. “Shut your fucking mouth. You don’t think about her. You don’t talk about her. And you sure as shit don’t hurl insults in her direction. Because here’s the deal, sweetheart. You and I were going to have fun for an hour or two. Then I’d forget your name in a matter of days. You were using me just like I was using you. But we’re done now.”
I leave Rachel, still kneeling for Christ’s sake, in the middle of my room and book it down the stairs and out the door to see Willa struggling to get a huge-ass vacuum in the back of the Maid 4 U van. I stride over and take it from her, lifting it into the van and setting it down next to a bucket of cleaning supplies.
“Stay away from me,” her words are angry, almost fearful, and what the fuck? Yea, she saw me getting head from another girl...awkward doesn’t cover it. But we haven’t seen each other in a year and a half. Andsheis the one who leftme.
“Willa, look. This was bad, I know, but I never—”
“Never thought you’d see me again? Yea, same. So look, let’s just pretend this never happened, ok?”
“What? No. Willa, I need to see you. We need to talk. I—”
She laughs, and the sound is bitter, nothing like the sweet, soft laughter that haunts my damn dreams. “You’re kidding, right? You want to talk? Now?”
“Yea, I want to talk. What the hell? You—”
“Too bad. When I wanted to talk, scratch that,when I fucking needed you, you couldn’t be bothered. So no, I can’t talk.”
“What? Willa, what the hell are you—”
She cuts me off with a glare. “I need to go. I have somewhere I need to be.”
“Yea, fine. Ok. Can we talk later this week? Meet for coffee?”
“Coffee?” She nearly chokes out the word.
“Uh, yea, you know, dark brown liquid of the gods. Or tea. Or fucking hot chocolate. I don’t care. There’s this place on campus, Drip. We can meet—”
“No,” she interrupts, sounding downright panicked. Something’s off. Yea, I get she’s surprised, but her reaction is not adding up.
“Alright, just—”
“I’m late. I need to go. Goodbye, Knox.” She steps into the front seat of the van.
I panic because time is clearly running out, and I can’t let her leave without making sure I can see her again. “No, not goodbye. Look, I don’t know what’s up with you, but…”
There’s that laugh again. “You don’t know what’s up with me? Yea, I’m aware. Because you didn’t want to know.” And with those cryptic as fuck words, she peels out of my driveway.
My head spinning, I walk back inside to see Rachel fumbling with her shoes. I can’t even muster a goodbye. I just stand by the door until she walks out, then I close and lock it behind her.
As if on autopilot, I walk into the kitchen, grab the bottle of Dewar’s from the cabinet and pour myself a couple shots, downing them in succession.
The door opens and for a split second I hope it’s Willa, but that’s not possible. Ty and Whit walk in, chatting away about the film class they’re both in. Whit loves it and Ty thinks books are always better than their movie counterparts. Because of course he does.
“Hey, shouldn’t you be in class?” Whit asks, walking past me to open the fridge.
“Skipped,” I tell him.
“Yea...looks like you stayed home to have a liquid lunch?” Ty eyes my three shot glasses with concern, not that I’m surprised. But as usual, I don’t give a damn.
“Yep. Wanna join me?” I ask, pouring three more shots.
“Fuck, no, but I will just to give your liver a damn break,” Whit mutters as he takes one. Ty sighs and does the same.
“Ok, I won’t say I’ve never come home to you pounding shots in the middle of the afternoon, but, uh… bad day? Or just thirsty?”
“Willa was here.”
