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“Girl talk,” she said. “I thought you’d take longer at the store.”
“Maybe I should have. I’m going to the kitchen and putting headphones in. I donotwant to know the rest of it.”
“Are you sure?” I called. “I mean, you’re kinda like a girl too.”
“Nope!”
He was gone before I could say anything else.
“Why does this always happen to me?”
“To be fair, we always have weird conversations. Besides, I think it’s funny.”
I glanced in the direction of the kitchen one more time and then turned to Lily. “Now where were we?”
“Assumptions and how you might be wrong.”
“I think I was telling you how right I was.”
She pressed her lips together. “No, that’s not true.”
“It’ll be fine. If I break my own heart, at least I should have money for ice cream.”
“And you’ll find someone better.”
I thought of V, who I regretted not meeting in person, and sighed. “Yeah. I’m sure there is.”
If he would only open up to me.
The pizza arrived not long after, and we all sat to eat. Sebastian got over his embarrassment and was able to look me in the eye by the end of the night, and we had a fun time.
I left at nine, expecting Levi to be home.
But he wasn’t.
I could have gone to bed and let him come home whenever he wanted to, but I knew that if hewaswith a woman, there might be evidence. And as much as I wanted to pretend I was fine with him doing whatever he wanted, I knew I wasn’t.
Sitting, I pulled out my phone and got comfortable. It was eleven before he came home.
“Oh, you’re still up?” he asked, but his words were off.
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you drunk?”
“No.” But then he hiccupped.
I frowned but kept my thoughts to myself. Just because I didn’t like drinking didn’t mean other people were the same way. At least he’d parked his car here before going out.
Butwhowas he drinking with?
“Did you have fun, at least?” I asked as I got up to take his work bag from him.
“Yes, but whiskey was a poor choice.”
“Maybe you should sleep it off.”
“I definitely should,” he said and stumbled in the direction of the guest room. I put a hand on his shoulder in case he tripped on one of the rugs. I checked his neck, hoping and praying I wouldn’t find either lipstick or a hickey.
Thankfully, I didn’t find either.