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No one knows you’re heartbroken when it ends. You can’t use a broken heart as an excuse to hide away in your loft or, say, drop out of college.
Okay, I didn’texactlydrop out of college over a broken heart.
It’s more complicated than that.
There are more twists and turns than my heart being shattered.
“I call them douche bags because they’re lame, boring, and bad for you,” Rex explains matter-of-factly.
“You’re one to talk.” I roll my eyes. “Who’s your flavor of the week?”
Rex hasn’t changed his mind about a relationship. Since we’re open books to each other, I know why he runs from them. He doesn’t think he’s capable of having a normal relationship. He doesn’t trust anyone other than his mother—he did correct himself, adding me to that list after I scowled at him for not including me—and he thinks love makes people weak. He grew up around his parents’ toxic marriage, and he saw the pain his mother endured in the name of love as his father cheated.
He scratches his scruffy cheek. “Hmm … I’d say chocolate chip.” Mischief flashes in his eyes. “Next week, you can whip me up some Snickerdoodle.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Sucks for you. All the chocolate chip have been eaten by this girl.” I poke myself in the chest with my thumb.
“Lies, my dear Lina, all lies. Youalwayssave me cookies. It’s in our friendship handbook.” He squeezes my thigh, smacks a kiss onto my cheek, and rises from the couch. “You love me too much to withhold them.”
He’s right. I always make extra for him,especiallychocolate chip.
They’re his favorite.
He goes to my kitchenette, and I don’t bother glancing back at him as I hear him opening cabinets.
After I dropped out of school, I stayed at Rex’s apartment for two weeks. I was terrified to tell my parents and had to build up the guts to break the news. Rex offered to go with me, but it would’ve only made them angrier. They would’ve somehow pointed the blame at him.
My mother cried. My father threatened to cut me off.Technically,he did cut me off. I’m now responsible for every bill—phone, rent, car insurance. My sister, Tricia, stepped in and offered me the loft above her garage. It’s roomy, with plenty of space for one person. I have a small bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchenette. On the plus side, it’s larger than my dorm room. It also came furnished with a queen-size bed, a couch, and a TV. I’ve added a few special touches—bright purple throw pillows, numerous photos of Rex and me, and a large bookshelf I filled with my favorite novels.
Tricia doesn’t charge me rent, but I still need money to eat and for basic essentials, so I got a job waiting tables at Shirley’s Diner. The money isn’t great, but it will hold me over until I decide my next step, which is to eventually look into online classes.
“Uh-oh,” Rex draws out, stepping into my view. A plate of cookies is in one hand, and a bottle of wine is in the other. Anemptybottle of wine. He snags a cookie before setting the plate and wine on the table in front of the couch. “Cookiesandwine. Who pissed my girl off today?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I grumble.
I’m not a big drinker even though I’m twenty-one now, and doing it at home isn’t a normal thing for me, but it’s been a day. Rex knows that I only pull out a bottle of wine when my stress level is high.
“Tough shit.” He plops back down on the couch, closer to me this time, with concern etched across his face. “You force me to talk about my problems, giving my dude Dr. Phil a run for his money.” He cocks his head to the side, studying me, and takes a bite of his cookie. “What’s on your mind?”
I twist in my spot, snatching the glass of wine resting on the end table behind me. “You remember my cousin Faye?” I gulp down the remainder of wine. A good amount of alcohol needs to be in my system to even say her name.
He nods, swallowing down his bite before answering, “Chick who couldn’t handle one beer without puking it up and then went and tattled on us for having said beers? The one who was a major bitch to you until I set her straight?”
“The one and only.”
“What about her?”
“She’s getting married.”
He loudly whistles. “Damn, poor guy. How much did her parents pay him to put up with her evil ass?”
A laugh escapes me. Rex always adds humor to my crappy situations.
“She invited me to her wedding in Texas.”
“And?” He grabs another cookie.
“And not only do I not want to attend, but I’m also lacking a date.”
