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“So cool! Do you want to ride in it with me sometime?” she asks.
“I would love to,” I answer genuinely, although I’m not sure how realistic the chances of it happening are.
Her eyes drop to the gift bag in my hand again, and this draws an almost-hysterical giggle out of me.
“This is for you,” I say as I hand her the gift.
“Really?! Thanks!” she shrieks.
Fighting the sadness trying to escape me, I wipe my eyes nonchalantly, trying to play it off. But as my gaze meets Anna, I know she saw it. They weren’t tears of joy at seeing Abby. And I know Anna also saw that from the sad, pitying look that flashes my way as she smiles.
“I’m not feeling good, Abby. I have a bit of a cold that just won’t go away.” Ain’t that the truth?
“Oh no. Well, my mom always says you have to sleep your sickness away. Are you going to sleep to get better?” she asks me, unfazed at my illness.
“Is it okay with you if I leave early to get some sleep? I did have to make sure that I came to see my favorite girl though,” I tell her sweetly.
“Me? I’m your favorite girl?!” she asks with untamed excitement.
“Of course you are,” I tell her, watching her smile grow even bigger somehow.
This could be the last time I see Abby or Anna. This time next year, they will have forgotten about me. I will simply be Reed’s ex who broke his heart. I hate losing them too.
“Are you sleeping here?” Abby asks.
Anna cuts in, “No, silly. She is probably going to sleep at home. Are you okay if she goes home to get some rest and feel better?”
“Well, yeah. I don’t want her to get worse,” she says matter-of-factly.
“I appreciate that.” I force a smile her way.
My stomach twists and my eyes well back up with tears as I take a step toward her.
Dammit.
Now it’s me that throws myself around her, hugging her tightly. Even though she knows I’m sick, she hugs me back just the same.
“Get better, okay?” she demands more than asks, and this time, a genuine smile tugs at my lips.
“I will,” I promise her, unsure if it’s one I’ll ever get to keep.
Anna opens her arms, and I step into them, fighting the tsunami building in my eyes. Breathing her in, I find myself mentally checking out. This is all so much more overwhelming than I could have ever imagined.
I really, really need to get out of here before I lose it.
Pulling away, I avert my gaze and say, “I’ll see you guys later.”
“Bye, Charlotte!” Abby shouts at me as I rush back off the rink on the pink carpet, my tears already starting to fall.
I just need to get outside, feel the fresh air, look up at the sky, then go home.
“Charlotte,” Laura calls out to me.
Turning around, I continue to move backward off the rink, and by instinct, my gaze darts straight to Reed, who I find is watching me with a softer gaze, which somehow hurts even more.
“Stay and have fun. I just can’t be here right now, okay? Call me later,” I tell her, although I don’t know if I’ll even have the courage to answer.
“Charlotte, slow down. Talk to me. I know you said you aren’t feeling well. But is that just because of Reed?” she pleads, continuing to practically chase after me as I near the doors I entered through.
