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We both fell silent for a few seconds.
The breeze blew my hair across my face. Pulling it away, I said, “Thanks for checking.”
“Take it easy, and, Remi?”
“Yeah?”
“Give him a chance, okay?”
Giving Colton a chance was what I was doing, sitting on the couch, hoping every time my phone rang or buzzed, it was him. But it wasn’t, and I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“You figure out who did it?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.
“Not yet, but we will.”
“Thanks, Dexter, for checking in, and for being a good friend.” Colton acted like he was an island, but he wasn’t if he had friends like Dexter.
“He’s a good guy.”
I knew he wasn’t talking about the guy who assaulted me. “I know he is.”
Dexter ended the call, and I felt worse than before he called. Dexter hadn’t said that Colton was busy and asked him to call. There was no explanation for Colton not calling other than to give him a chance.
“You want to stay for dinner?” Mom asked.
“I think I want to head back and see my friends. They’ve been calling.”
“They’re worried about you,” Mom said.
“I have good friends.” Appreciation filled me for my friendships and family. I just wish I could include Colton in that.
“I can drive you back, but if you get home and need us, call. We’ll come get you anytime.”
I hugged her softly. “Thank you.”
Those two words encompassed everything: taking me and my sister into their home in the middle of the night when they’d never fostered a child before, keeping faith that we’d come back to them, and adopting us. They raised us and helped turn us into the strong women we were.
“You’re welcome, sweet girl.”
* * *
At home, I changed before messaging my friends on our text chain that they could come over for dinner. As much as I loved my parents, I needed my friends. Especially since Colton wasn’t here, and I suspected he was struggling with something.
The lack of communication hurt, but I knew it wasn’t me. It was him.
I was grateful when my friends started ringing the buzzer to come up. I let Brooke in first, and then everyone else arrived bearing gifts: magazines and books from Java Coffee, snacks from the convenience store, and pastries from Sophie’s bakery.
When everyone arrived, tears pricked my eyes. “Thanks for coming. I needed you guys.”
Brooke sat next to me and patted my knee. “That’s what friends are for.”
Yet I couldn’t help but want Colton by my side. I hoped I hadn’t fallen for a guy who wasn’t capable of being there for me long term. I believed he loved me, but what if he couldn’t follow through on the other things I needed? A home together, a family.
My heart throbbed painfully at the idea of losing what I’d always wanted after getting a glimpse of it with Colton.
“Want to order in?” Zoe flipped through the takeout menus I’d left out on the counter.
“I don’t care what we eat.” I thought having my friends around me would take my mind off Colton, but it only made me want him more.
