I pick up my phone again and call himback.
Again, he answers on the first ring. “Hi.”
“I can’t believe you’re being such a dick tome.”
“Really? I thought your whole world view centered on the belief that I’m a dick toyou.”
I hang up on him and drop my phoneagain. This time it falls on the carpet. Again, it is unsatisfying. I wish I were unstable and irresponsible enough to just hurl my phone at a wall, but I can’t not have a phone, especially while I’m helping to organize my best friend’swedding.
I let out a loud, deep, frustratedgroan.
My eyes are stinging with hot, repressedtears.
I call himback.
“Hi.”
“Fuck youBraddock.”
“Back at youDuffy.”
“What is your problem?! Is this really how you want things to end betweenus?”
“Things aren’t ending betweenus.”
I exhale. So relieved by his reassuring tone, it’s embarrassing. “Theyaren’t?”
“Not possible. You never even wanted to start, remember?” He hangsup.
He hungup.
Maya knockson my door and pokes her head inside. “Youokay?”
“Did he just hang up onme?”
“What? I’m sure he didn’t. Just call himback.”
I drop my phone onto the bed and run my fingers through my hair. “Oh my God it’s happening. I’m turning into Brie. I have become my own crazyroommate.”
“Honey this is so not the samething.”
“That fucker. This is exactly what I was afraid of and it has become areality.”
“Okay you know what. You go ahead and create whatever reality you need to, I have to meet Sam for dinner. I love you please don’t lose your mind.” She starts to close the dooragain.
“No no no no no! Wait! I’m not doing this! I’m notobsessing!”
“It’s okay, you canobsess.”
“No I’m not going to—I’m not going to be a blight on your beautiful weddingweek.”
“It’s just the weekend, it’s fine. Get it allout.”
“Okay go meet Sam for dinner, but the next time you see me I promise I will be sane and totally focused onyou.”
“Um also—hello? YOU SOLD ANOTHER FUCKING SCRIPT, ERIN DUFFY! Do you want to come to dinner with us? Wait a minute, we should be celebrating this. Come withus.”
“Nope! It’s bad luck to celebrate before I’ve officially received the deal memo or signed a contract. Go. Enjoy your sweet man. Loveyou.”
