Page 24 of Meant to Be

Leaving the man mid-sentence, I glided towards the pretty boy in his impressive suit.

He was smart. Charismatic. Generous.

After a lot of conversation and too many drinks, we ended up back in his apartment, rolling in his sheets, his tongue down my throat, giving me everything I had wanted for so long from Nick.

And that’s when it wentreallywrong.

It seems ridiculous when I look back at how quickly things moved. How isolated I became. How many red flags I chose to ignore.

I stare at the roof of my new place. I can’t believe I’m back here.Livinghere. All because ofhim.

A knock startles me back to reality. I wander to the door to see Nick standing there. His skin is streaked with dirt. I push open the screen door, and he wipes his palms on his jeans before thrusting a bunch of flowers at me.

“Heard about the new place,” he says with a shy smile. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Nick.” I grin, stepping back. “How did you hear about it?”

“I overheard Lynne telling Mum.”

Of course. Fucking small towns.

“Come on in.” I step back, holding the door open.

“I shouldn’t. I’m filthy. I’m just finishing work,” he says regretfully. “What are you doing for dinner tonight? I could swing by with some Chinese food?”

“That sounds amazing,” I say, nervously twisting my fingers at the hem of my shirt. “I’m … sorry. For the other night.”

“Me too. Let’s forget about it.”

“Already forgotten.”

“Great,” he says, his smile lines shining between the streaks of soil. “I’ll be back here then, about six?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I spend the next two hours rearranging and sorting my place, then get ready for dinner. I settle on a pair of denim shorts with a high-neck singlet tucked into the waistband. I’ve just finished lighting some candles when there’s another knock at the door.

“Oh, it’s you,” I say flatly when my brother appears.

“Nice to see you too,” he says, brushing past me and walking inside. He peers around at the candles and back to me. His hair is greasy and flattened from the hat he has clutched in his hand. “Expecting someone?”

“Maybe.”

“Which boy is it?” he asks with an irritating flash of his teeth. “Thanks for saying bye. Again.”

Ignoring his jab, I shrug. “I haven’t left.”

“You left the house.”

“I’m still here, though,” I say. “You can come see me any time.”

“We can hang out?” he asks, leaning against the wall, rubbing dirt on it. “Share secrets? Paint each other’s nails?”

“Didn’t know that was what you were into, but sure.”

Sam presses his lips into a thin line, before nodding. Without another word, he pushes from the wall and strides out the door. I exhale, watching him go. I grab a cloth and am wiping down the smudge he left behind when Nick arrives.

“Was that Sam I just drove by?” he questions.