“Wow. That was… public.” Molly hooked a hand through Cleo’s elbow and closed the door with a soft thud.
“How long have I been here?”
“I gave you fifteen.”
Cleo sniffed and nodded, wiping her wet cheeks with the back of her hand.
“Wanna talk it out?”
Cleo shook her head.
“Dinner?”
Another shake.
Worry pulled Molly’s brows into a deep frown, and her eyes wrinkled at the corners. Cleo was grateful she was holding back whatever judgement and lectures lay behind her twisted shut lips.
Giving Molly’s arm a gentle squeeze, Cleo released herself from Molly’s grip and made her way to her room.
He loved her.
A new wave of tears trickled down her cheeks. She stripped off, fighting the lethargy working its way through her muscles, and found a clean pair of pjs to change into. She fell into her unmade bed, her pillow huffing out a puff of air as she landed.
Nothing he’d said to her was untrue, but it twisted like a poisoned dagger in her stomach. Maybe she could sleep away his words, her actions, and she’d wake up to everything being okay again. Maybe she’d wake up and his love for her would be enough for her to start to love herself.
***
His chair was empty in English class the next morning, and their shared classes for two days after. She couldn’t concentrate on anything the professors in her classes said because the pain in her chest was oozing through every fiber of her being.
She hadn’t taken a full, deep breath since he’d left her apartment. Every one got caught around the stubborn ball of anguish lodged in her throat.
She missed him.
Her phone mocked her with an empty notifications page, and every time she caught a glimpse of her belovedPride and Prejudiceon her bookshelf, tears threatened.
Everything was ruined, she couldn’t concentrate, she couldn’t sleep, and she couldn’t stop worrying about where Lincoln was and if he was okay.
“You could text him, you know.” Molly accepted her foamy coffee with grabby hands.
Cleo shook her head. The door to the Sugar Bean opened and three of the Pirates walked in. Will, Austin, and Russell. Her blood froze in her veins and her mouth dried up.
“Keep breathing.” Molly’s whisper did little to reassure her, but Cleo appreciated the suggestion all the same.
“W-what…” She cleared her throat and swallowed. “What can I get you guys?” Still sounding croaky, she cleared her throat again.
Will leaned on the counter, rolling his eyes and bobbing his head as though he was having an internal conversation. He bit his lip.
“W-Will? Are you okay?”
Pushing back from the counter on a sigh, he turned to face Molly.
“Don’t look at me.” She shrugged and took a sip of her drink. “I got nothin’.”
“Will?”
He turned back to Cleo and opened his mouth but snapped it shut. “Know what? It’s none of our business.”
Cleo folded her arms. Maybe they’d ward off whatever onslaught she was about to receive. “But?”
