Page 22 of Personal Foul

Then I see a box sitting on my bed. It doesn’t look like anything that would have come in the mail, and I didn’t order anything that I could remember anyway. A piece of paper is folded under it, stationery from my desk. I frown and pull it out.

“To make sure your downtime is effective. Have a better week.”

I don’t recognize the handwriting, but the second I open the box I know who it’s from. Apparently, since I wouldn’t take his advice, he made sure the advice came to me. Then I feel the panic creep up the back of my neck becausehe’dbeen in my room again.

It didn’t look like anything had been touched.

Except he didn’t need to touch anything to find more humiliating things to add to the list. Because bras and laundry are scattered on the floor, random notes are pinned to my wall, and my room in general just looks like chaos. Like I live here in fits and starts because it’s true. I hate it. I hate that he’s seen the mess. That he’s had an inside look he has no business having while I’m melting down this week. And right now I hate Liv for being so fucking happy that she can’t think of us unhappy people long enough to realize we’re a mess right now and don’t need witnesses. I toss the box on the desk and curl up on the bed.

I must cry myself to sleep because a knock on the door wakes me up.

“Yeah?” I ask.

“It’s me,” Kenz’s voice comes through the door.

“Come in.”

I hear the door creak open, and she crosses the room, and I feel the bed dip under her weight.

“Are you coming down? Dinner’s ready.”

“I don’t think so. It’s been a long week, and I just want to sleep.”

“But we’re watching that new movie you wanted to see.”

“I’ll just watch it by myself sometime. You guys can do your couples thing, okay?”

“Okay. If that’s what you want,” she says quietly. “Easton’s here though. He might like it if you came down, so he doesn’t have to be the fifth wheel.”

I inhale sharply. I hadn’t imagined that he would still be here. In the scenario in my head, he dropped this box off and left. Knowing that he’s still in the house makes my stomach somersault. A feeling I don’t want to think too much about.

“Don’t women just magically appear next to him? Maybe he can conjure one to keep him company.”

Kenz laughs at that and runs her hand over my back. “Okay. Well, I love you. I hope you feel better. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know, okay?”

“Okay.” I nod, burying my face further into my pillow.

A few minutes later my phone dings with a text.

Easton

Please don’t make me be down here with them alone

Sorry. Not in the mood for couples tonight

Can I come up then?

I stare at my phone for a good minute, because I’m torn. My initial reaction is fuck no, but then I pause to think about it. Part of me actually wants him up here. At least arguing with him would distract me from my pity party.

Easton

I have an idea for the project

The follow-up text comes a second later. I still don’t feel like talking about project stuff, but he’s going to be relentless apparently until we hash it out. How strange is it that I thought he was going to be the slacker and now I’m the one avoiding the project?

Okay

ELEVEN