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“The books,” he says.
“Why?” I say loudly.
“Isa, let me take you home. I’ll leave early. Come on,” he offers as he steps toward me.
I swallow a wash of sadness and nod while I blink back tears. He walks out front and presses the unlock button on his car fob. I get into the passenger seat. He pulls out a box from the back of his car and sets the books inside it, placing it on the back seat.
Neither of us speaks as he drives me home. When we reach my apartment, he turns to me.
“Don’t give up on him. Please,” he begs.
“I can’t. I’m sorry, Bastian, but maybe he’s right. If he can’t get past whatever his issue is, then I’m not sure there’s a future for us, no matter how I feel about him,” I state.
“Just…give him some time. He’s been through a lot,” he explains.
“I know, but it’s not an excuse,” I argue.
“It’s not, but it is an explanation.” He pauses and looks into my eyes. “I know he can be a jerk. I know he can be an overbearing, grumpy, alphahole. I know he can be difficult.”
“Wow, you’re really good at selling your friend,” I say dryly.
“Buthe’s the best man I’ve ever met. If he were gay, I would totally be with him. He’s a better friend than anyone in my life and he loves hard, maybe too hard. I promise you, his irrational behavior is coming from a place of love for you. He’ll come around. I know he will,” Bastian argues.
“Bastian…” I trail off with a sigh. I’m too tired to argue. I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. “I’ll see you later,” I state as I get out of the car.
“Don’t forget the books,” he adds.
Cursing Adam, I reach into the back seat and take the box of twenty-eight priceless books. It seems unceremonious to carry them inside in a brown cardboard box, but I’m not giving up on my dreams, and if Adam’s parting gift is the equivalent of several million in books, then so be it.
I shut the door and head inside Elisha’s café. I don’t want to go home. I need my best friend.
When she sees me, she pauses cleaning the counter, and steps around it. She says nothing as she walks across the open space, removes the box from my arms, and sets it down before enveloping me in a hug. And that’s when I lose it. I’ve broken up with boyfriends before, boyfriends I’ve had longer than Adam, but this…this is unbearable. I feel like a piece of me has been ripped off and tossed away. It’s hard to breathe.
“Take a deep breath,” Elisha says.
I try, and instead, inhale too quickly. Hiccups start racking my chest.
“Sit down. I’ll get you some tea,” she says as she pulls out a chair and forces me to sit in it.
I put my head in my hands. The bell over the door rings.
“What’s wrong with Isa?” Ella’s voice whispers from a few feet away.
“Oh, she met a douchebag and he just showed his true douchebag colors. What can I get you, Ella?” she asks.
“Just a black tea, please,” Ella says. “Wait, is this…” She looks around and lowers her voice, “Adam Wellington?”
“Yep,” Elisha answers for me.
“Damn. That sucks,” she says.
“You working an extra shift again?” Elisha asks.
“Yep. Gotta pay the bills,” Ella says with a tired groan.
“Well, that we can all relate to,” Elisha replies.
Ella turns back to me. “Sorry, Isa. Men are…well, stick with us girls, we’re better.”
