I turn away. “Don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“The guy you’re always waiting for,” he says, leaning against the counter. His blue nail polish shimmers in the fluorescent light. “I figure it’s the same one. Is he still ghosting you?”
“He isn’tghostingme.”
“Then where is this mystery boy?”
I let out a breath. “He’s not coming around anymore.”
“Did you two end things?”
“No, it’s… hard to explain.”
“Well, I have plenty of time.” Simon takes a seat next to me and gets comfortable. “Start from the beginning.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “But there isn’t a story. We were never really together, to be completely honest.”
“Were you in love with him?”
The question surprises me. Maybe because I never asked it myself. I stare at my hands, thinking about it. “Maybe I was. We spent a lot of time together. He made me forget about everything else, you know? He would disappear a lot, but was always there when I needed him. He was like my best friend, too. It’s hard to find people who you connect with like that.” I go still for a moment. “I’m starting to think I just imagined it all.”
Simon nods thoughtfully. “People come in and out of our lives, you know? Sometimes for the better, and sometimes you wish it happened differently. It’s just the way it is.”
“How do you deal with it?”
“I just cut my losses,” he says with a shrug. “Move on to the next guy who will probably disappoint me, too. It’s the circle of life. I mean, how long are you gonna cry over the same guy? Throw that dead fish back in the sea.”
I say nothing.
“And that’s what we have friends for, anyway,” he adds, playfully hitting my shoulder.
I smile a little.
Simon rises from his chair. “At the very least, you have to stop moping around here,” he says. “You’re killing the vibe.”He grabs his phone from the counter. “Alex and I are going to a party tonight. It’s at one of the crew’s apartments in Hyde Park. You should come with us.”
“I don’t know if I’m up for that,” I say.
Simon shakes his head. “It won’t be like last time. My friend Scottie’s at UChicago, so it’s not all theater people. You don’t need to dress to the nines. Unless you want to, of course. But there won’t be any Christians there. As far as I know, anyway. I mean, what else are you gonna do? Stare longingly out the window all night?”
I let out another breath. I was planning to go home and watch another movie, maybe work on the film scholarship application. But Simon has already invited me out a few times. I don’t want to keep saying no, especially when he’s making the effort to hang out with me. It might be nice to take my mind off things for a couple of hours. “Okay, I’ll come. But I probably can’t stay too long.”
Simon smiles. “Perfect. We can split an Uber.”
We get off work a few hourslater. I change my shirt and meet Simon at the corner, where the car is waiting for us. Alex texted us a few minutes ago, letting us know she’s already on the way. It’s still cold out, but I decide not to bring my jacket. I always end up forgetting it at these types of parties. The car drops us off in front of an apartment building that could be mistaken for a fraternity house. Ivy runs up and down the brick-red walls. I’ve never been to this side of Hyde Park before. We make our way inside and head to the second floor.There’s more people here than I expected. The place is dimly lit, strings of blue lights hanging along the walls. At least the music isn’t too loud. Simon hugs a few people, introducing me to everyone.
“This is Eric. He works the box office with me.”
I keep looking around for Christian. Thankfully, I don’t see him anywhere. I can’t really imagine him at a place like this. He’s probably at some fancy cocktail bar, drinking with the other guy I saw him with. I push the thought of him out of my mind. A moment later, Alex finds us near the Ping-Pong table that doubles as a second bar. She sets her drink down and puts her arm around me.
“When did you guys get here?” she asks.
“A few minutes ago,” Simon says.
Alex glances at me. “What’s wrong, Eric?”
“Some guy ghosted him,” Simon whispers.
“Again?”
