Page 110 of Tell Me Something

“I didn’t get a chance this week. I had the funeral and some things to take care of. How did Brian get involved?” His tone was light even if his question wasn’t.

“He came by the office tonight, and I showed him the letters. It snowballed from there.”

“He does have that effect,” he noted wryly.

“I’d better get back. Thanks for coming.”

“Haylee, look, I was busy, and I didn’t want to burden you with stuff. And I knew it was that time of the month, so I figured spending the week away would be good.”

My temper snapped. “You went from not being able to spend a night away to completely frigid. And if you’re implying your silence was because I was on my period, well that makes me think that all you want me for is sex.”

He balked. “You know that’s not true, and I apologize if it came out that way.”

“Why the distance this week? What happened after Vegas?”

“What? Nothing, I just—”

“Just what?”

“Look, I don’t want to talk about it, but it has nothing to do with you, okay? It’s been a bad week all the way around.”

“Are you going to tell me why it was such a bad week?”

His eyes told me the answer before he did. “No. You’ll have to accept that I’m a private man. I’m not going to tell you everything.”

“Right. Because I’m just the temporary secret girlfriend with an expiration date. Why bother to confide in me?” There, I said it, and immediately I saw his anger.

“Is that what you really think?”

I gave a half shrug, turned around, and headed back to the table. It took all of my willpower not to cry. Instead, I pasted a smile on my face for the next thirty minutes.

I did my best to ignore Josh once he appeared back at the table. He also must have realized it would look awkward if he took off too soon, so we both went through the motions.

It was past my bedtime and I could feel myself fading. “You guys are the best, but I should get home. At this rate I think I’ll be good and hungover, Brian.” I gave him a pointed look.

He held up his hands, and we all laughed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You accepted the beer chugging challenge and I have to say gave me and Mark a run for our money. Plus, you’re in your early twenties and should have twice the stamina we do,” he teased.

Hugging Sasha first, I promised to meet her for lunch soon. Will embraced me next and told me he’d call when he got back in town. He was flying out the next morning for a modeling gig. Next was Mark, which was kind of awkward. He’d seemed uncomfortable ever since Josh had showed up. Brian, of course, lifted me off my feet with exaggerated exuberance and kissed me on the cheek.

“Congratulations again,” he said.

“Thank you.” I faced Mark. “And thanks again, Mark, for looking over my application and statement.”

Blushing slightly, he nodded and then gave me a thoughtful look. “Wait. You never said: which school are you choosing?”

Oh, that. “I honestly have no idea. I feel like I should play roulette with the letters and let fate decide. Although I talked to my father’s former partner today, and he said that he could find me affordable housing near Stanford. But I guess I need to map it all out.”

“Mark could probably find you affordable housing near Yale, too,” Josh offered.

“Well, I vote Columbia or NYU, so you can stay in the city,” Sasha remarked.

“Me, too. Stay in New York, Haylee girl,” Will said.

I had to hold my tears back by biting my lip. I felt like the friends I’d made here would miss me when I left. That feeling hadn’t been with me when I’d left high school, college, or LA. Looking at their faces, I tried not to get too emotional about the fact that each of them had taken time out of their busy schedules to be with me tonight. “Well, I’m going to try to figure it out by next week. I’ll let you know.”

Just as I was about to walk outside, Josh stood up. “I’ll make sure you get a cab. Anyway, I need to get home myself.”