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Grant: Where are you?
Me: The pub
Grant: It’s almost midnight
Me: So?
Grant: So I was worried when I got home and you weren’t here
Me: I told you where I was going
Grant: I guess I expected you to be here when I got home
Of course you did, because I’m the perfect little girlfriend who’s always at your beck and call. No, I can’t type that. I can’t let on that anything’s wrong.
Me: I’ll be home soon
Grant: I don’t want you walking home by yourself. I’ll come get you.
Me: I’ll be fine
Grant: What the hell is your problem?
You being a cheating fucking asshole who’s on a dating app behind my back…
Me: Long day. I’ll see you when I get home
“I’m going to see if Joey can give me a ride home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Savannah hugs me once again, but this time I actually return it.
“I’m sorry, big sister. I hate being the bearer of bad news.” She rubs my back in comfort. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. And don’t be sorry. I’d still be in the dark if you didn’t tell me.”
The walk from Savannah’s office to the bar feels like I’m walking the wrong way down one of those airport conveyor belts that gets you through the gates faster. When I finally reach Joey, his beautiful smile immediately fades to a frown.
“What’s wrong?” He braces his hands on my shoulders.
“Can you give me a ride home?” I’m not ready to tell him about this, especially considering his low opinion of Grant in the first place. He doesn’t miss a beat though — he knows something is off with me, and he probably picked up on the fact that I was upset with Grant earlier.
“Is that really where you want to go?” His question stabs me right in the gut.
“Not really, but I don’t have anywhere else to go right now.” I don’t mean to sound so self-deprecating.
Joey gulps nervously before he answers me. “You can come crash with me if you want.”
Butterflies awaken in my core, buzzing about frantically. This is twice tonight that I’ve been offered an escape from my own personal hell, but I can’t bring myself to accept it. I need to see it with my own eyes before I can do anything about this.
“I appreciate the offer, but Grant would be really worried.” I don’t know why I care whether he would be worried or not, considering he doesn’t take my feelings into consideration.
“Well… that’s an open offer anytime you need it, okay?” He pulls me into a hug. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not at the moment,” I mumble into his shoulder.
“Okay, I’m here whenever you do.” Joey wraps an arm around my shoulder and escorts me out of the pub.
When we get in his truck, we’re blasted with heavy metal music. “Jesus!” My hands shoot over my ears until he turns the volume down.
“Sorry, I was in the middle of a jam when I pulled up,” he chuckles and I can’t help but return the smile, even if it’s forced. “Do you have a preference of music?”
