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‘Yeah, she’s totally ghosting you,’ Ryan said, and received a punch in the arm from Chloe for his honesty. ‘Ow, what? I’m just telling the truth.’
‘I know, but sometimes the truth needs a little padding,’ Chloe said, giving his arm a stroke where she’d hit it. It was only light; he would live.
Jen tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling. She’d managed a five-mile run before conceding she couldn’t literally run from her problems and needed to head home. Being alone felt like a bad choice, so she was currently sprawled over Chloe’s armchair, third-wheeling the couple’s movie night. ‘It’s true, but,’ she said, thrusting a finger in the air. ‘Do you think it’s because she knows that I like her?’
The sound of the TV filled the room as neither dared to answer.
Jen shifted, her attention fixed on Chloe. ‘Clo, come on, be honest.’
Chloe shook her head, her eyes pleading for reprieve. With a sigh she caved. ‘Okay, yes. Going by what you told us, I think you’ve fucked it.’
‘Urgh,’ Jen groaned, slamming her head back against the chair’s arm.
‘I dunno,’ Ryan said, giving his stubble a scratch. ‘I mean, I can’t see why else she would be ghosting you, but I don’t think you were that bad. I think you should message her again, outright ask if you’ve done something to annoy her.’
Chloe looked at him with disgust. ‘She can’t double text again. Are you mad?’
‘She needs to know!’ he exclaimed, gesturing his empty palms towards Jen.
‘But she made it obvious. Why else do you think she would be ignoring her?’
‘I don’t think it was obvious,’ Ryan mumbled as he downed a good glug of his drink.
‘How can it be more obvious than “It would take a special person for me to date again” to be followed with “and you’re pretty special”?’ Chloe asked, incredulous.
Jen pulled a face. ‘The way you say it makes me sound like a total smooth talker. I might have paraphrased a little there.’
‘What? How?’ Chloe’s face dropped.
‘I don’t remember the specifics, but it wasn’t run-on sentences like that. Stuff happened in-between. But it felt obvious at the time.’
‘It felt obvious,’ Chloe repeated as if in a dream, taking the change of events in. ‘So. Let me get this straight. You said, “I don’t want to date anyone” and then five hours later you followed it up with the last part?’
‘Right. Not that bad, but yeah, there was a sizeable gap.’
‘Jen!’ Chloe wailed, swatting the air like she might have been able to reach her bestie’s leg. Lucky for Jen she was too far. ‘And then you carry on like that yesterday? The poor girl probably has whiplash.’
‘See, Jen needs to text again. Get a straight answer.’ Ryan looked pleased with himself.
‘He’s right. I can’t feel like this forever.’
Chloe considered it as she walked to the kitchen to get a refill. ‘It’s a risk, pal. You sure you don’t want wine?’
‘No, I feel sick.’
‘Lordy. I’ve never seen you like this,’ Chloe said, plonking herself back onto the sofa.
‘It’s like,’ Jen whined, hands gripping her stomach. ‘Everything hurts. I feel sick. I’m full of energy and I want to be pacing, but equally I just want to be in my bed with the covers over my head. I hate it.’
Chloe looked at Jen like someone might study a rare animal at the zoo. ‘It’s so weird seeing you like this. You’re properly in love, aren’t you?’
‘Less of the L-word, please. Ryan already thinks I’m a psycho.’
‘I never said nothing,’ he countered with a smile.
Chloe set her glass on the coffee table before venturing over to Jen’s side. ‘What can I do to make you feel better?’ she asked, crouching level with Jen.
