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“You’re not fine, and that’s okay, Ana. I’m staying with you today. And I’m not asking your permission.” She hugs me once more before she guides me to the passenger door of my car and opens it for me. “Let me just grab my stuff and tell the office to send in a sub. It’s fine.”
She is already speed walking towards the door before I can even wrap my mind around her words.
My head feels like it’s in a haze. The cloudiness is covering the logical parts of my brain that would have stopped me from bothering my best friend at her place of work, and letting her leave her job for the day to spend it with her ridiculously emotional friend.
Embarrassment starts to flood me. “Qué demonios estás haciendo?” What the hell are you doing? I mutter outloud to myself.
Before I can get out of the passenger seat, Maddie is already climbing into the driver’s seat. Even if I left without her, she would have followed me. Probably even chased after me on the road, causing a scene.
“My place or yours?” she asks. I don’t answer right away.
“Maddie, you don’t have to. I’m so sorry—” I start but she cuts me off.
“Ana, if the roles were reversed, or if I was going through something unimaginable, you wouldn’t give me a choice. You would just be there for me. So let me be there for you. Okay? Nothing else matters right now,” she says, her voice strong but slightly breaking with her flood of emotions. She has always been an overly emotional person, feeling everything so deeply. She used to think it was a flaw, a frustration. But I told her that it is a strength. Not only having the opportunity to sympathize with others, but to empathize. To meet them where they are in their feelings and feel them with them, and love them through the emotions.
I turn to look at her. Her green eyes even brighter than normal as they show the evidence of those feelings. I nod my head, because I can’t find the words at the moment.
She smiles and says, “Your place. So you can change out of your ridiculously cute and beautiful outfit into something more comfortable.”
SEVENTEEN
NOW, FALL
A few hours later, Madeline and I are sitting on my couch eating Spanish food from a place around the corner and watching a mindless sitcom. I’m stuffing my face with a mouthful of bistec empanizado, breaded cubed steak, when Madeline’s phone pings.
“It’s David,” Maddie says, putting her plate down and picking her phone up to read the text. “He wants to know if you’re okay.” She gives me a soft smile.
“This is so embarrassing,” I groan around a mouthful of plantains.
“I’m sure it feels that way to you right now, but I can guarantee you that David isn’t thinking that. He’s a great guy,” Maddie consoles me.
“I know. I can tell,” I admit and swallow my food. “I also know that I just keep looking like a basketcase to him.”
“You don’t,” Maddie says. “I haven't shared any of what happened, that’s not my place. He hasn’t asked either. I can tell he’s curious, but he’s too polite and thoughtful to get into your business.”
I nod and sigh as we look at each other. She says, “Do you mind that he hangs out with us sometimes? He and Elliot get along really well. I’m glad that Elliot has a guy friend.”
I shrug, “I don’t really care. He’s cool. Doesn’t bother me.”
“Okay, cool,” Maddie says, almost too nonchalantly.
“Why?” I question her.
“Nothing, seriously.” She sounds sincere now. “I just want to make sure you’re okay with disrupting our little group with someone else. Especially another guy. I should have asked before he started hanging around. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
I shake my head. “Stop. You didn’t have to ask and you still don’t,” I assure her. “I’m fine.”
Maddie looks at me, eyes solemn and wide. “Okay.”
“Okay,” I echo.
Maddie taps away at her phone for a few moments. I continue eating and focus my attention back on the TV.
“Elliot is going to stop by after work and I’ll just go home with him.”
“How are you getting your car?” I ask her.
“Elliot will drop me off at work tomorrow morning, and I’ll just drive it home. No big deal,” she says. “David just asked if he can bring something by for you?”
