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“Sure you were. You’re always welcome.”
I dry the plate and then move to put it up. “Excuse me,” I say to my roommate, not bothering to even give her the courtesy of my eyes.
She slides to the right, enough for me to open the cabinet. “It was spur of the moment,” she claims. “Dane had an extra ticket to see a band down at the Bend in the Road Bar.”
He adds, “Mia couldn’t make it. Last-minute appointment at the salon.”
I actually don’t care what they did. I care that my friend didn’t respect our plans. It’s not worth arguing with drunks, though, so I grab my laptop and phone and go to my bedroom. “What time is your boyfriend coming over?” she asks in a mocking tone before I can close the door to block them out. “I’m surprised he’s not already here.”
I close the door and start packing my stuff. I’ll deal with her in a little while. I shove clothes into my book bag and then grab my makeup and other toiletries from the bathroom, stuffing it in there as well. Only five minutes until Harbor’s supposed to be here and I’d rather spend them waiting at the curb than inside here with the two of them.
I walk past the kitchen where they’re still eating and laughing as if they didn’t purposely exclude me from going with them tonight. Although Dane seems to be under the impression that my best friend invited me.
He asks, “Where ya going?”
My eyes stare from him to her, and then I reply, “To my boyfriend’s apartment.”
“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.” He speaks louder as if I can’t hear them clear as day, “Since when?”
“Since a month ago.” He’s not been directly rude to me or anything, so I try not to be such a smart-ass to him. “Not many do know. We’re taking our time without others inserting their opinions.”
I walk out the door and am about to shut it behind me, but the key is still in the lock.Drunks.As much as I’m hurt by her actions and words, I still don’t want anything bad to happen. I dip my head back in. “The key is still out here. Make sure to take the key out of the lock.”
“I understand,mother,” she replies in an annoying tone.
I stop in my tracks, leveling her with a dagger-filled glare.
First, she knows that was a dig because she knows the story about Liz. And secondly, I don’t recognize her right now. This isn’t my friend. This is someone who wants to hurt me.
Why?
What happened?
What is she not telling me?
Her anger regarding my relationship makes no sense.
My heart aches from the cut of her words. I blink back tears and raise my head in a sad attempt to stop myself from crying.When I walk outside, Harbor’s already waiting for me.For me.
This man is here for me without question just like I am for him. That’s never been more apparent than it is right now. He grins, and tonight, it’s not so perfect, slightly lopsided in his smirk, but it’s perfect to me.
He meets me on the path and takes my bag in one hand and my hand in his other. “Good day?”
I debate if I should lay my troubles on him the minute we’re together again. He’s so happy that I don’t want to ruin his mood. He opens the car door and puts the bag in the back. I’m not always one for silence, so he looks at me and asks, “Everything okay?”
I bite the inside of my cheek. I have so much to be happy about, including finally going to his apartment tonight. I won’t let her ruin this for me. Whatever she’s upset about, we’ll get to the bottom of it and work it out some other time.
I’ll put on a happy face because Harbor deserves nothing less. “I’m good.” I slip into the car.
When he gets in, he reaches over, resting his hand on my leg. “Hungry?”
“No. I had pizza earlier.”
There’s a hint of nervousness hanging in the air, his gaze volleying between me and the road. “I went to the store and got a few things. So if you’re hungry—”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to. I don’t have people over very often.”
