“What?” he asked, glaring at me because I was staring.
“Nothing.” I grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured myself some orange juice.
“So,” he dropped onto the sofa and turned on the TV. “I heard you were the reason Vinny didn’t get into the Alpha Tau. Is that true?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him?”
“What happened, did he shoot you down again?”
I glared over my shoulder. “Have fun moving, Tyler.”
“I will. I can’t wait. Living with you two and all your PMS is like living with my family all over again.”
I rolled my eyes and returned to my bedroom. I sat on my bed and looked at my phone, wondering how Vinny’s night turned out. I assumed he was probably hung over and didn’t want to talk to anyone, so I decided not to call to wish him a happy birthday.
Instead, I decided to get out of the apartment before I got dragged into more of Tyler and Lindy relationship drama. I showered, filled my backpack with my notes, books, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for my lunch, and then headed to the campus library to study alone in peace.
It was around noon when I got interrupted from writing my essay by a phone call from my mother. I stepped outside to take the call and she explained that my grandmother was getting released from the hospital. When she asked about Vinny, I told her everything was good to spare details.
After the call, I didn’t feel like working on my essay anymore. It was a sunny day and I decided to take a walk through the park across the street. I ate my sandwich on the bench near a pond and fed my crust to the squirrels running around. As I watched the squirrels fight for my scraps, I found my thoughts drifting back to the problem at hand.
I glanced over my shoulder in the direction of his dorm and my heart ached. A part of me wanted to check on him, but I reminded myself about what Suz told me to do and I felt even worse. I knew what everyone thought was best for me, but my heart was telling me I needed him. Instead of getting my head in deeper over the whole situation, I walked to the grocery store where there was a movie kiosk. I rented two comedy movies. I felt like I could use a good laugh.
Once I got back to the apartment, I was surprised to find it empty. I assumed Lindy ended up helping Tyler move after all. While I had the place to myself, I popped a bag of popcorn and put on my high school gym clothes Lindy hated. Afterwards I put on the first movie, a romantic comedy, and crawled under Lindy’s afghan, content to just be alone and forget my own life drama for a while.
I had a few good laughs and I ended up falling asleep during the second movie.
I woke up a few hours later to the sound of the front door opening. Lindy stepped inside a second later with a lopsided ponytail, looking tired. She tore her jacket off and joined me on the sofa.
“I don’t know how he can stand to live in that place,” she complained, reaching into my bowl of popcorn and stuffing some in her mouth. “What were you watching?”
“Some romantic comedy. It wasn’t very good…I fell asleep.”
“Did Vinny call you?”
“No.” I said, feeling offended that she’d even bring up his name. “Why?”
“Vivian invited Tyler and I to meet up at the bar across the street from campus, I guess she is throwing him a birthday party.”
“That’s nice.” I answered, snatching a few pieces of popcorn and scowling at the TV. “I wasn’t invited to the other one, I guess it shouldn’t surprise me I’m not wanted at this one either.”
“You could go.”
“I don’t want to. Fuck them.”
“I could go and spy for you,” she said, elbowing me and crunching popcorn.
I shook my head. “Don’t bother.”
“Don’t you want to know if Vivian is putting moves on your man?”
I sighed. “No Lindy. Will you just shut up about Vinny and Vivian? He’s not my boyfriend, he never was my boyfriend, and I don’t give a shit what he does or who he does it with.”
“Okay! God. You don’t have to rip my head off.” She tossed some popcorn at my face.
I threw it back at her.
“Tyler is going.”
“Is he bringing you or Becky this time?” I asked with a smirk.
She glared at me. “Ouch, Bitch.”
“Sorry,” I said with a sigh. “I’m cranky. I think I’ll go study and go to bed.”
“It’s only nine-thirty. When are you going to stop being so boring?”
“Never.” I stood up and headed for my room. “Have fun without me, everyone else seems to.”
“Oh come on drama-queen. You should come, we will dress you all sexy and he’d totally shit. You could make Vivian jealous.”
“No thanks. Goodnight, Lind.” I said, closing my bedroom door.
“Boooring!” she yelled after me.
I curled up under my covers in the dark and closed my eyes, forbidding myself to cry anymore over this situation. Maybe the overall consensus was right, I didn’t need this drama, and I could do better.
I ended up falling asleep again and dreamed that I went to Vinny’s birthday party. Everyone was there, even my parents and my brother. They were all standing around the bar and Vinny was the center of attention, laughing and talking with a beer in his hand. However, when he looked at me the happiness drained from his face. I ran towards him apologizing for not having a present, but he told me to get out in the same tone he used on his father. I started to cry and Vivian appeared in front of me and started yelling in my face. Suddenly everyone at the party crowded around me and started pushing me and yelling that I ruined the party. I ended up running out the door and I woke up in a cold sweat.
I realized that I was buried under my covers, so I tossed them all aside, letting the cool air comfort my smoldering body. I checked my phone to see it was only two in the morning. The apartment was silent. I wondered if Lindy went to Vinny’s birthday party.
My heart was still ricocheting against my ribs from my dream when I slid out of bed and walked to my window. The glass was frosted over and I could barely see the faint orange glow coming from the parking lot lights. I rubbed at my arms, the heat of my nightmare finally dissipating. I decided to check Lindy’s room and make sure she made it home okay.
I crept down the hall to find her bedroom door open. I looked in to find her alone in bed, curled up with her two-foot tall teddy bear named Doug. Doug had been in the family since her father won him at a carnival in second grade. I guessed Doug was the new Tyler. Instead of disturbing her, I made a bathroom stop and turned the heat up just a little before returning to my bed.
I lay there in the dark, listening to the soft whoosh of the heat coming through the vents and I wondered if Vinny was still out, enjoying his birthday. I wondered if I would ever stop wondering about Vinny. I really was a lost cause.
The next morning I woke up to the apartment smelling like something delicious. I climbed out of bed and wandered out to the kitchen to find Lindy with her iPod blasting some annoying pop song while she danced in front of a griddle full of pancakes. She saw me and smiled, singing a line of the current song into the end of her spatula.
I laughed and shook my head, helping myself to a glass of orange juice.
“Did you want some blueberry pancakes?” she asked, pegging me in the arm with a fresh blueberry.
I picked up the berry and tossed it into the trash. “Sure, but is there a special occasion?”
“No, I just felt like making pancakes,” she said, carefully flipping the ones on the griddle.
“That’s a lot of pancakes. Are you expecting Tyler over for breakfast?”
She shrugged. “He said he might stop over later.”
She leaned over the counter and grabbed her iPod deck, shuffling through the songs.
“Is everything okay with you guys?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I don’t know, I guess I just never saw you two fight before yesterday.”
She shrugged. �
��We are fine.”
I sat down on top of the counter and let my feet dangle over the side as I sipped my juice. “Did you go to the party last night?”
She glanced over at me. “I stopped in for a sec.”
“And…?” I asked, taking a long swallow of juice.
“And it was just like any other party. A bunch of drunken rowdy people having a good time.”
She placed the three pancakes on a plate with the other few she had already made. “You can start eating if you want.”
“That’s all you’re going to say?” I said, ignoring her offer.
She looked over at me and laughed. “I thought you didn’t care?”
“I lied. Did he look happy?”
“I guess,” she said glancing down at the spatula and picking some batter flakes off. “He asked how you were doing.”
My heart skipped. “What did you tell him?”
“I said you’re a fucking mess and you want to have his babies.”
I gasped and leaned over, trying to slap her arm. “You did not!”
She laughed and swatted my hand with the spatula. “Don’t touch me!”
“Did he really ask about me?” I asked, unable to hide the hope in my voice.
“Yes, he really did. I told him you were doing good and you said to tell him happy birthday.”
I felt content with that answer because I knew it was the truth. But there was a little part of me that still felt sad.
“He said to tell you hi,” she continued, pouring more batter on the skillet. ” After that I left to go to another party with Tyler.”
“Was she hanging on him?” I asked, knowing she knew who she was.
She looked at me. “What do you think?”
“Was she?”
“She was a few times, but she was really busy entertaining everyone.”
That made me feel slightly better and I helped myself to three of Lindy’s blueberry pancakes.
After breakfast, I took a shower. Since it was Sunday, and I had an afternoon to kill, I decided I would go to the mall. Maybe I’d window shop and come across a present for Vinny.
I straightened my hair and pulled it into a ponytail then I threw on a grey fitted low cut sweater with leggings, and black calf-length boots. I invited Lindy to go to the mall with me, but she said she had plans with Tyler.
I walked down to the bus stop on the corner that was in route to the mall. I only had to wait ten minutes for it to show up.
Once I arrived at my destination, I stopped in a few stores, admired some outfits, and replaced my lip-gloss. As I passed the food court, I decided to grab a snack because my calorie count was on a roll after just eating three pancakes. I bought a soft pretzel and took it with me as I continued window-shopping.
As I was passing the big fountain at the center of the mall, I noticed Vinny walking towards me. He was wearing a black and grey plaid shirt rolled to his elbows with a black t-shirt beneath and black jeans. I quickly started backing up and tried to go around the other side of the fountain. That wasn’t my best idea. I bumped into a little old lady who dropped a handful of pennies she was getting ready to put into the fountain. Once I was done helping her pick up the pennies, I looked up to find him a few feet away, watching me with a hesitant expression. His hands moved in and out of his pockets before he finally spoke. “Hey Autumn.”
I blushed and forced a smile. “Hey.”
The pretzel that was hitting the spot moments before suddenly felt like a dough boulder in my stomach.
He stepped closer so we were standing before one another in one of the most awkward moments I ever experienced.
“What are you doing here?”
“Um, shopping?” I answered as if I suddenly forgot.
“I thought you didn’t like shopping?”
“I do…sometimes.” I said, showing him my tiny makeup counter bag. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be hung over after your party last night.”
“Oh, no I’m okay,” he said smirking. “Luckily, I was fine when I woke up. Thought I’d go spend some of the gift cards I got but I don’t know what to spend them on.”
It sounded like an invitation to help him, but I wasn’t sure. “Did you come here alone?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you want me to help you pick something out? I mean, I’m not great at picking out clothes, but—”
“Sure, if you want to. I could use some new shirts.”
We smiled at each other and I followed him to the closest department store, Neiman Marcus.
We walked in silence until he finally spoke.
“How’ve you been?” he asked tucking his hands into his pockets.
“I’ve been okay. How about you?”
“Pretty good, I guess.”
I realized it was just last weekend around this time that we were having sex in my bed back in Hamilton, and now, a week later, I could barely carry on a conversation with him.
Once we entered the store, we headed to the men’s department. We wandered through the racks of clothes, and I waited for him to show any sign of interest. He seemed like any other typical guy; disinterested in shopping.
“This is nice,” I said, grabbing a random black sweater. He looked good in black.
He took it from my hand and looked it over, giving his nod of approval.
“What size are you?” I asked.
“Like a medium-large.”
I laughed. “There isn’t a medium-large. It’s one or the other.”
“Kinda like us. We are or we aren’t. There’s no middle.”
I looked at him and blinked as a wave of heat traveled up to my cheeks.
He gave me a forced smile. “Sorry. I just…don’t know what to do or say around you anymore. It feels…I don’t know...”
“Awkward.” I finished.
“Yeah,” he gave me a simple nod and placed the shirt back on the rack.
I drew a deep breath and crossed my arms, wondering if helping him shop was a bad idea.
“I wished you were there last night.”
“What?” I stared at him, knowing what he meant.
“I wanted you to come to my party last night.”
“Why?” I turned away and ran my fingers over the sleeve of a random shirt.
“Because I miss you. I was hoping you’d be there with Lindy.”
I pressed my lips together and kept my gaze on the rack of clothes. I finally lifted my shoulders in a shrug. “I wasn’t invited.”
“You didn’t need an invitation.”
I could feel his stare burning into me, begging me to look at him.
“Yeah, tell the host that.” I turned to another rack and swiped a few shirts aside.
His hand caught my hip and my heart jolted as he turned me to face him. The hangers in the rack behind me pressed into my back as he leaned in closer. “You know what I really wanted for my birthday?”
I swallowed, feeling a flush of heat over my face. “What?”
“You.”
I closed my eyes as his lips nudged mine in a gentle kiss. I moved my hands to his shoulders and instead of pushing him away like I should have, I breathed in his amazing scent and returned his kiss. A rush of euphoria washed over me as he pulled me against him and our lips mingled for another amazing moment. There was no way to deny it, everything felt good when he was near, and I knew that was where I wanted to be.
He brushed his lips over my temple and whispered, “I missed you so much.”
I squeezed him, still riding the overwhelming surge of emotion flowing through me. “I missed you too.”
He swallowed and leaned his lips close to my ear. “When I got your text about wanting to be just friends, I didn’t know how to handle it…I wasn’t sure what to say.”
“I’m sorry Vinny,” I answered, leaning back to look up at his face. “I wanted to do what was best for you…or what I thought was best for us.”
“Autumn,” he said, his grip firm on my hips. “Th
e best thing for me, is being near you. Nothing compares to how I feel when I’m with you.”
Tears burned my eyes and he pulled me in for another kiss. Afterwards we just stood there and held each other as if we were making up for lost time. Finally, he pulled back and whispered. “You want to get out of here and get some lunch? The sales associates are staring at us.”
I glanced over to see two girls behind the counter watching us with smirks.
I smiled up at him. “I wasn’t aware that there’s a law against people cuddling in the clothing department. Maybe we should take it to the dressing room next time.”
“Don’t give me any ideas,” he teased, taking my hand and pulling me toward the exit.
He kept ahold of my hand as we walked through the mall and discussed what we were in the mood to eat. I said I would eat anything, and he started teasing me about eating escargot and cow tongue. In the end, we settled on chinese. He said he knew a place that was decent and close to the mall.
As we were heading for the parking lot, I happened to glance over just in time to see Tyler walking by with his arm around someone. My first thought was it was Lindy, then my steps faltered and my jaw dropped as I recognized the girls long orange ponytail. It was definitely not Lindy. It was the server from The Soup Bowl, Becky.
“What the fuck?” I blurted, turning around to face Tyler, but he was far enough to not hear me.
I resisted the urge to chase him down and tackle him. My blood simmered when his hand slid down over Becky’s ass to cop a feel, completely oblivious of me watching behind him.
“What’s wrong?” Vinny asked.
“Did you see that? That’s Tyler!” I snapped, glaring at Vinny then at the back of Tyler’s head. “That fucking asshole is cheating on Lindy. I’m going to kick his ass!”
I moved forward to confront him but Vinny caught me by the arm and turned me to face him. “Hey, calm down, okay? It’s not your business.”
“What?!” I pulled out of his grasp. “It is my business. Lindy is my best friend! I can’t believe that asshole would do this to her!”
Down to Business (Business Series) Page 25
