Closing the car door, I finally let my walls come down. The tears trailing down my cheeks as I let the moment overtake me, trying to keep eyes on Z the entire time to make sure he isn’t coming over.
I’m surprised how quickly Eli’s walking out of the gates.
The tears come faster as I watch them embrace and Z nod to the truck.
Before getting into the passenger seat, Eli scans the parking lot. I can tell he’s looking for my car.
Our eyes lock for a moment. I watch his lips part, and I wish Icould look away. I wish I could pretend none of this had affected me. His head snaps as he looks back into the truck at Z and nods.
One more glance at me,I’m sorry,he mouths before sliding into the seat and closing the door.
Pulling out my phone and dialing Low.
“He’s out.” I tell her.
“Drew.” It comes out in a whisper.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine.”
“Okay.” And I hang up. I can’t force anything more.
Driving back to my apartment, I sigh as I climb the stairs, replaying the entire conversation in my head. Hell, replaying every fucking conversation in my head since he showed up with my phone.
30
“Drew,” I call over the music. On top of interning at the firm, Liv told me how Drew has been helping the club to make some extra money. It only took Liv a few minutes to convince me to tell Drew.
“Drew!”shouting her name a second time, Low’s eyes widen as she sees me. She’s about to nudge Drew when she looks up at me, her eyes rolling.
“What?” she finally cuts out.
“Can we talk?”
“No.”
“Sketch…”
“Eli.” She’s trying to keep a tough exterior, as if she doesn’t care, but I can read her. I can see the hurt she’s trying to keep locked away. “I told you don’t ever call me that again.”
“It’s not what you think.” I ignore her last statement.
“I. Don’t. Care.” She emphasizes every word before turning, smiling to one of the other customers.
He tells her what he wants, and I watch her walk closer to where I am, opening the draft with the glass underneath it.
“There are things I didn’t tell you.”
“So you were lying to me.” Before swearing when the glass overflows.
“No, yes, fuck. I couldn’t tell you.”
“Well, lucky for you, I don’t care.” She says as she sets the glass down harder than she meant to, and beer spills out over the lip, getting on the man, but Drew doesn’t notice it or the irritation on the man’s face.
She doesn’t need to look this way for me to know that she’s full of shit; she cares. She cares so much that she hates herself for it.
“Just let me explain.”
