And then we cried in each other’s arms on her driveway—like it was right out of a Hallmark movie, while her dad was honking the horn.
I wanted to tell him to get lost, that he could drive off to fuck-knows-where, and leave Lou with me.
I just wanted her to stay.
But she didn’t.
So, I stood there with a burning nose, and a stone set in my stomach, watching their car disappear around the curb.
I was a wreck for months after. I mean it, life was hell.
It got a little easier when I finally convinced Kaden to be my new bestie. It’s definitely not the same, considering I’ve never had a crush on Lou. But it got easier. I felt less lonely.
Lou came here a couple of hours ago, on her way to Seattle where she’s starting a new job. I barely made it to the door before it swung open a few hours ago, announcing her arrival.
“Think fast,” she said before a bag hit me square in the chest. Then she parked her carry-on right inside the door with a big grin and jumped into my arms, giving me the hardest hug I’ve ever gotten, almost choking me in the process. I love it. Lou always gives the best hugs.
I sashay over to her, sucking my cheeks in and sway my hips like I’m on the catwalk.
“Work it, girl,” she cheers. “Give us a twirl!”
I spin around, finishing off with a pose and she laughs.
“Is it serving cunt?”
“Yeah, I don’t know what that means,” she says.
I mull it over for a second. “Yeah, me neither.”
“Shouldit be serving cunt anyway?” She frowns. “Since you’re, you know, gay and all?”
“Is it serving dick?” I raise an eyebrow. “Or ass?”
“What? No,” she laughs before she makes gimmie fingers at the glasses still in my hand. “I think you should stick to serving wine. Pour me some, cupbearer.”
I sit down next to her and pour a glass for each of us before scooting further up on the couch, sitting crisscross applesauce.
“Milady,” I say, clinking my glass with hers.
“Milord.”
“If people heard us, they’d barf.”
“I know,” she says, sipping her wine before she strokes a hand over the fabric of my pajama. “I wasn’t sure on the size, but it looks great.” That was what was in the bag she threw at me. I love it but I’d never let myself buy something like that. “And have you just been at the hairdresser? Your hair looks great, Seth.” She smiles at me. My biggest supporter, right here.
“Oh, my god, she’s amazing—this new one I go to. Look at these shadow roots,” I say, folding a hand under my chin, batting my eyelashes at her, making her laugh.
She’s amazing, though, my new hairdresser. I’ve gone to her for a few months now and she’s doing a bang up job keeping my hair naturally platinum, if that’s even a thing. That’s what she calls it anyway.
“Love it,” Lou says, sipping her wine. “Ugh, I wish I could stay longer than one night, but I really need to unpack when I get there. And then there’s this intro thing on Monday already, so—”
“Excuses, excuses,” I sigh loudly, rolling my eyes, and take a sip of the wine.
“Yes, well, the door swings both ways,” she shoots back in a faux British accent, and sips her wine loudly enough to make us both crack up.
I love this. We used to do this all the time in high school. Not the wine, but this. Us. Curled up on a couch, or her bed, talking our brains out. Doing face masks, and flipping through fashion magazines. And I miss it so damn much.
“Yo!” Kaden says when I answer the phone the next day. It’s been a few hours since Lou left and I’m cranky as hell. I alwaysmiss her like crazy right after we say goodbye and usually spend a day moping around in my apartment, being an absolute needy wreck.
