Page 24 of Hide From Me

“Alright there, Rayray?” Jack teases, his grin wide and knowing.

I flip a reverse card and ignore him.

“Oh, you’re fuckin’ in for it,” Laura screeches at Jack. Rolling my eyes, I check my phone for the fiftieth time, only to find it depressingly dry, so I set it back down face-first. I hate how reliant I’ve become on it, since I haven’t seen Moe in so long. He hasn’t even been to the diner since the day he brought my car back.

My threat to call the cops was just that—a threat—but now I wonder if I pushed too hard. Maybe I was too harsh in assuming he was keeping the car captive like some kind of psychopath. I was half tempted to explain to him that day why I was so strange about it: how Lance used to take the battery out when he was angry and didn’t want me leaving, or how my car would mysteriously disappear for a week, only to return home covered in bumps and dents. But he blew me off, and rightfully so. I can be an arse to him, so I don’t blame him for wanting to distance himself from me. I just didn’t think it would affect me like this.

Maybe I’m clinging so hard because of the guilt gnawing at my stomach over the way I act when he does things for me, like fixing my car. I’ve never experienced that before, and just the memory of climbing into the driver’s seat with his scent lingering in the air and turning the key to hear the engine start instantly warms my chest.

No, no, no. It was just a friendly gesture, and that’s what I’ll continue to tell myself.

"You can't do that!" Jack yells, throwing down his cards like a child throwing a tantrum. I glance at the deck to see how many draw twos Laura has stacked against him.

This game is never going to end.

Like a godsend, my phone starts vibrating face down on the table. Since the only people I talk to are in the room, I don't need to check who it is.Am I an idiot for grinning?Absolutely.

My hand shoots out, grabbing my phone like a lifeline. I don’t look at either of them. Just stand and slip away, leaving them to scream about draw twos and technicalities.

"Hello?" I nearly whisper while gently closing my bedroom door behind me. Why am I whispering? Fuck I don’t know. He does this stupid shit to me. I’m hooked on a dick I haven’t even had and it’s so damn frustrating.

“If it isn’t my little ray of sunshine.”

I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see it. “What do you want?”

It’s silent, as if he wasn’t expecting me to be so blunt. I wish I could be different—able to take compliments and flirt with ease. I want to be the kind of girl who openly swoons over him but this is who I am now.

“If you were going to be quiet, you could’ve avoided calling me altogether,” I mutter, tracing my finger over the dresser as I stare into the mirror. The person looking back at me is almost unrecognizable—no makeup and light bags under my eyes.

“I’m a busy man,”Moe finally replies, his tone light and teasing.“Speaking of busy, I wanted to let you know that I’ll be gone for a week on a business trip. It’s last minute and unexpected—”

“I don’t care,” I quickly cut him off. He’s not my boyfriend; he doesn’t have to explain things to me, even though deep down, I really do appreciate it, especially with–

Don’t think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it.

I gnaw at my nail and start pacing the floor.

“Alright then,”he says quietly.“I was hoping you'd let me take you out when I get back. It may be casual, but that doesn't mean I can't wine and dine you a little.”

“Oh, so is this your way of making up for disappearing…again?” I mockingly say as I plop down on my bed.

“You saying you missed me?”His voice drops, and I swear I can feel it in my spine.

“Hell no. It’s one less stain I have to clean off the tables,” I reply sternly, trying to recall the last time I saw him, but I hate the memory that comes to mind. He was so distraught, with flushed cheeks and his chest expanding so wide I thought he might burst. I want to ask what happened that day, but it’s not my place.

“You wound me.”He chuckles, but then he hesitates.“Yes, it’s my way of apologizing. My job takes a lot out of me when I have to go on these trips, and it’s not fair to you that I leave at the last minute, especially since I haven’t seen you since—”

“Fine,” I say without thinking. There’s a knock on my door, so I throw a shoe at it, hoping whoever it is will get the hint. A stretch of silence fills the line so loudly that I catch myself straining to see if I can still hear him breathing.

“Thank you, baby. I promise you won’t regret it.”

I know he’s waiting for me to respond, but I can’t find the words. Thankfully, he doesn’t press for more and simply hangs up with a quiet,“See you soon.”

Goddamn him.

“Ray! If I hear even the faintest sniffle, I’m busting this door down!” Jack yells.

“Is it because—” Laura starts.