Two days before he died, he liked a picture of her and commented with a string of hearts. Presumably, he already knew he was going to propose to me.
I’m so mad at him; sometimes I wish I could resurrect him just so I could bitch-slap him. Other times I promise God that if he brings him back to me, I won’t complain. I’d forgive him. Pretend it never happened.
Now, I hear Colt and Nora arguing in the living room.
“。 . . said we’re moving in together. I’m tired of this shit, Nor. It’s been years. Not months—years!” Colt groans. I wonder if he knows just how thin our walls are as I stare at the ceiling from my bed.
“What am I supposed to do, Colt? She just lost her fiancé!”
“Of four hours!” Colt hits back.
“Don’t be gross.” Nora sounds appalled more than anything else. “What an insensitive thing to say.”
“Now who knows when she’s going to feel better? You’ll be stuck here forever. I can’t do this anymore. I just can’t.”
I agree with Colt. Nora should move in with her fiancé. She can’t keep being my crutch. I muster the energy, fling the blanket off, and hobble to the living room. I rap on the wall three times to indicate my presence.
Nora and Colt both turn to look at me, surprised.
“You left your bed.” Nora’s eyes widen in disbelief.
“Yup.” I’m smiling. It hurts my cheeks so bad I’m surprised I’m not bleeding. “Just thought you guys should know I have plans for this evening.”
“You do?” Nora’s eyebrows reach her hairline.
“Yes.”
“Who with?” she demands.
“Joe,” I say naturally. He is the only person I know in this town other than them, so it’s a no-brainer.
“Nice.” Colt folds his arms over his chest. “Need a ride?”
“No. I just wanted you guys to know, so if you want to go out or anything, you can. I’m totally okay. And while we’re on the subject.” I turn to Nora, taking a deep breath. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done and are still doing for me. But please don’t let it screw up your life. I promise I’m okay. Move out. Live your life. I’m still going to have you as a friend. You can keep an eye on me. You are welcome here anytime you want to check on me. I’ll even let you have our spare keys. I’ve ruined enough lives, Nor. I don’t want yours to be added to the list. Go live with Colt.”
“Thank you, Jesus.” Colt rolls his eyes up to the ceiling, pressing his hands together in a praying motion. “FYI, Ever, I think you’re great. I just . . . I don’t want us to get stuck. All of us. Me. Her. You.”
“Yeah, Colt. Sure.” I smile sweetly at him. “The fact that you keep saying that I’m great totally excuses you from behaving like a world-class dick. Keep up the good work.”
“Don’t be like that!” Colt cries out.
Nora looks between us. Pain is marring her face.
“We’ll give you a ride,” she says.
“There’s no need—”
“There is,” she insists. “I don’t want you to go by yourself. Plus, it’ll be nice to check in on Joe.”
“I’m not a kid, Nora.”
“I know that,” she says brightly, pretending like all is dandy and Colt and I didn’t just have a standoff. “But I’m a helicopter parent in the making, so deal.”
Begrudgingly, I call Joe to let him know that I somehow roped him into my lie and now we have to at least pretend that we’re meeting. He answers after the third ring, sounding both surprised and worried.
“Is this your way of inviting yourself over?” he grunts, although I can hear that he’s happy to hear from me. Why wouldn’t he be? He wasn’t the one who didn’t want to hang out. I did.
Wincing, I explain, “I told Nora I have plans so she could finally leave the apartment and do something with Colt, and since you’re the only person I know in this town . . .”
“You do know how to make a guy feel special.”
I let out a rusty chuckle. “That’s me. Ever the smooth talker.”
“Might as well make it real if she drives you here, right?”
“Oh, I’m sure you have plans . . .” I trail off.
“What makes you so sure? You’ve very little idea of what my life looks like these days.” Then, after an awkward pause, he asks, “Have you eaten anything today?”