* * *
? ? ?
BY THE TIME I got home from work, I had no more tears. I’d been in a lethargic funk all afternoon and I just wanted to collapse. But when I went up to my room, the sight of that bed made me want to vomit.
A smart person probably would’ve been content with the fact that they’d at least scored a kick-ass bed from that asshat.
I was not a smart person.
I wrestled that mattress off the bed, sweated and groaned as I navigated it down the stairs, almost passing out by the time I got in the elevator with it. Thankfully a nice guy was already in there and asked if I needed help, so he and I dragged it up to Colin’s door. He started to prop it against the wall across from Colin’s condo, but I shook my head and told him it needed to block the doorway.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“It has to.”
After he moved the mattress, I said, “Thank you so much for your help.”
He looked at me like he thought I was batshit crazy and said, “Forget about it.”
I repeated the same thing with the box spring but without a helper, and by the time I was finished, I was covered in sweat. I hoped Jack wasn’t the one who had to come home and deal with it, but the bed that prick had bought was no longer my business.
It wasn’t until midnight that I remembered I’d shut off my phone, and as soon as it powered up, I saw message after message from Colin come through. That made my body find another store of tears, dammit, and I was just done. Without reading any of his texts I sent: For the love of God, if you ever cared about me at all, please stop texting. I can’t do this.
He immediately responded. Just let me come down and talk to you.
I closed my eyes as the tears burned.
Me: I guess I’m blocking you, then. Bye.
I cried as I blocked him because it felt supremely final. It was closure, the circle of life as I shut down the original Wrong Number from ever texting me again.
But because I was a glutton for punishment, I spent the next few hours rereading our transcript from the beginning. Who needed sleep anyway? But Gawwwd, there were so many embarrassing things I’d texted to Wrong Number, things I never would’ve wanted Colin to know.
I was beyond angry and disgusted with him, but worse than that, I was devastated to lose him. It probably meant I was weak, but all the little inside jokes and easy banter we’d shared had blossomed into something huge and full, and now they were gone.
It was like that line in You’ve Got Mail.
“All this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings.”
20
Colin
“You look like shit, Col.”
“Language, Jillian.” My mother glared at my sister before giving me a big smile, twisting her pearls in multi-ringed fingers. “Sit down, sweetie.”
I dropped into the chair across from my father and reached for the drink menu. Sure, I’d pregamed in the lounge, so I had a decent buzz rolling, but from his stern expression, I got the impression I’d definitely need more. I asked, “Do they have appetizers here? Like mozzarella sticks?”
My sister snorted and my dad said, “We’re not at an Applebee’s, Colin.”
“I wish we were, because I think I’m in the mood to try karaoke.”
Jillian’s eyes widened, and I could tell she was trying to discern whether or not I was drunk. I wished I were, but sadly I was sober enough to see the fight brewing in my father and the odd disconnection on my mom’s face. I decided to dial it back and said, “Kidding, you guys.”
My dad gestured for the waiter to bring him a scotch before saying to me, “So how’s business?”
“Good.” I did the slow nod and said, “Having a hell of a good year.”
He nodded. “Fantastic. Too bad it isn’t your business; not really your good year at all.”
“That is so true, Dad.”
“Been promoted lately?”
“Since the last time you asked me a month ago? Let me think.” I tilted my head. “Nope.”
“Ha ha, funny man.” My dad crossed his arms over his chest. “It just seems like you’ve been stuck in this position for a while.”
“I’m not stuck; I love my job.”
“Said the stuck guy.” He looked at me for a long minute, narrowed his eyes, and said, “You don’t get to the top by loving your job, Col. You get to the top by—”
“Can you guys knock it off?” My sister rolled her eyes and said, “As exciting as it is to talk about Col’s horrible, awful, unthinkable job as a very successful financial analyst, I would like to hear about the girl he’s been seeing.”