Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
I haven’t talked to Luke since last week, and I’ve put off talking to him as long as I possibly can. On Friday morning, I finally officially end things. He doesn’t seem too upset, and I’m definitely not either. He said we were never actually “together,” which would have surprised me had it not been for that time in the bar, but whatever.
Afterwards, Ren and I laugh about it while saying our goodbyes.
I promise to call and text often, and we even make plans for her to come stay with me over Spring Break at the end of April.
Two hours into my boring drive home I let curiosity get the best of me. I call Josh, because it’s obviously me who can’t stay away.
He answers on the first ring, and the amount of relief in his voice doesn’t escape me.
“I’m all packed up and on my way home. I said goodbye to Ren, to all my other friends… my dorm room. That was it. That was college.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s how things go though, right? Everything has to come to an end eventually.”
“Not everything.”
“Right,” I roll my eyes.
“I’m sorry about Deb, and for making you-”
“It’s fine,” I interrupt. “I am just as much to blame for what we did.”
“Are you okay?” He hesitates.
“What do you mean?”
“You have a boyfriend, no? You must be so torn up over-”
“I don’t,” I interrupt again. “It was over from the start, sentenced from the minute I saw you again, sealed the instant you showed up when I found out about my Dad, and it’s hard for other people to live up to someone else…” my voice trails off. “But we did officially end things this morning. Although, I don’t think we were ever really together. It was… stupid. I always seem to do stupid things. Actually, I’m thinking of seeing a therapist about it.”
“Luci,” Josh laughs.
“What?” I sigh.
“You’re rambling.”
“Sorry,” I exhale annoyed.
“It’s okay,” he chuckles. “It’s cute.”
“Cute? Crazy? What’s the difference?” I laugh. “Anyway, any plans tonight?”
“Nope,” he exhales. “Just watching some movies.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep,” he laughs. “Indiana Jones, since someone once told me she prefers Harrison Ford in that, and although I still disagree, I’m trying.”
“Oh come on, ‘Nothing surprises me; I’m a scientist,’” I quote the movie. “It’s right up your alley!”
“God, you are such a geek,” he laughs.
“Well I’ll let you get back to your movie, then,” I smile to myself in my dark car.
“Okay,” he sighs. “Just… thanks for calling.”
“Okay, weirdo,” I joke, and I hear him laugh as we hang up.
I get home late, and sleep in the next day.
By late afternoon, I head to the mall for a mani/pedi, and I’m actually feeling good. I’m even contemplating going shopping afterwards, and if there’s anything I hate most, it’s shopping.
The lady finishes with my toes, and I ask her to wax my eyebrows while I’m here. I feel sadistic, because the ripping of my hair feels good.
“Luci?” I recognize the smooth voice, and open the eye the lady isn’t about to rip to shreds. “That looks extremely painful.”
“It’s not so bad,” I blush. What an awkward and embarrassing position to be spotted in, especially since I didn’t wear any makeup today, knowing I was getting this done. “What are you doing here?”
“No moving!” The lady shouts, her accent stronger than her words.
“I’ll wait outside?” Josh laughs.
“Okay,” I mumble.
Five minutes later, a mirror is being shoved in my face to okay her work. They’re much better than they were before, despite now being extremely red and puffy. I pay the $10, and give her a $2 tip, spotting Josh sitting on a bench just outside.
Fuck. My heart starts beating rapidly as I walk towards him, and I hoist my designer purse, a birthday gift from my parents, higher on my shoulder.
“Are you stalking me or something?” I kick his foot and he looks up from his phone.
“You caught me,” he stands, surrendering. He’s dressed so casually, complete with backwards baseball cap, and it leaves me wonderstruck. “I need to get more ties, and I purposely came to the mall, which has the largest department store in the area, just somehow knowing you’d be here.”
“Well,” I sick my hands in my jacket pockets. “I vaguely remember you admitting you’d come to the mall to try and find me.”
“Well that I did,” he admits, and we start to walk. “Are you in a rush?”
“No,” I shake my head. “Just came to get my eyebrows waxed, and my nails done.” I flash my newly painted fingernails in front of him before stuffing them back into my pockets.
“Very nice,” he smiles. “Want to help me pick out some ties?”
“Sure,” I shrug as we fall in line.
It feels weird walking around the mall with him. It was strange going to a restaurant after being secretive for so long, but the mall! It’s a whole other ball field!