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Proven fact. Years of data. My whole life, actually.
I wait a bit longer, just in case, drinking a coffee I can’t taste.
You knew this would happen, I tell myself. Lin said this would happen. But did you listen? No. You went and started falling for this guy, for his bright smile and laughing eyes, and here you are, waiting.
Always waiting, not even knowing what for.
For Mom to come back, Dad to get his act together, a guy to really be interested in me and not use me as a doormat.
My eyes are hot with tears. I refuse to let them fall. Not going to cry over this, over my stupid thoughts, my stupid heart. It’s time I learned my lesson.
Clutching my phone in my hand, I drop some money on the table and leave. Better this way, better that he bailed so fast. Imagine how torn up I’d be if we’d met today, too. Ready to cry, and for what? A sexy boy who turned out to be as arrogant as I’d initially thought.
Serves me right.
I can’t remember walking to the bus stop and reaching the apartment, lost in a dark cloud of anger and disappointment. Feeling too much over something that never really happened.
But that’s when the second blow of the day comes. My sister calls to say she’s coming back, so I can go home. She sounds eerily calm, which means something’s really wrong, but I accept her words without a question.
I’m going home, away from Merc Watson, and what I feel is relief.
Chapter Five
Merc
“You alive in there, man?” JC calls from behind the closed door of my bedroom. “Merc! Merc Watson!”
I groan, throwing an arm over my eyes and rolling on my stomach. What the hell does he want?
“I’m warning you, I’m coming in now,” he shouts, his voice driving a spike through my head. “One, two, and here we go.”
The door creaks open.
“What the fuck?” I croak, wincing as the light from the doorway stabs my eyeballs. “Whatcha want?”
“Now you answer. Dude, I’ve been knocking on your fucking door for an hour.”
“Awesome.” I lift my heavy head and glare blearily at him. “M’ fine. Now go away.”
“Seriously?” He folds his beefy arms over his chest and glares right back. “Your phone has been ringing since morning. Now it’s almost evening, and you’re still in bed. Whatever you are is not ‘fine.’ Are you sick?”
Sick? I’m not… I just…
I struggle to make my brain work, but no dice. My head feels like it’s stuffed with cotton balls. Big, goddamn heavy cotton balls. My mouth, too.
“Goddammit,” JC says, and leans over me. “What the fuck, Merc? Are you on drugs or something?”
“Drugs?” I mutter, licking my dry lips. Hey, that rings a bell. “Pills.”
“Jesus, man, what pills?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue. My numb, cottony tongue. “Sleepin’.” I try again. “Sleeping pills.”
“Why would you take…?” He rubs a hand over his face. “Shit. Wait here, I’ll get you some water.”
By the time he’s back with a glass of water, I’ve managed to turn and s
it, stuffing a pillow behind my back. The room is spinning in lazy circles and my limbs are made of lead.
