The Price We Pay (25 page)

Until today
.

“Fuck man,” he muttered, shaking his head, “I thought it was bad before, but that look on your face is making me sick. I can’t continue to look at you.” He crossed his eyes. “I’ll have to do this shit that hurts my eyes, or start looking over your shoulder.”

I couldn’t nor did I want to stop smiling. I was happy and relieved a little bit that all my time and effort had paid off. I knew it would.

“Something was wrong with her today,” I told Nick who put his chin in his hands, staring at me.

“Speak, I’m listening,” he said in a high-pitched feminine voice. “Yes, I know I’m a good friend. The best one you’ll ever have. Feel free to tell me that as much as you’d like, but after you tell me what happened.” He winked at me.

“Don’t wink at me, pervert.”

Nick was a good friend. He was there the night I caught my girlfriend cheating on me with my best friend, William. Shortly after that, William and I were fighting and two of our buddies jumped in, apparently siding with William, making me the odd man out. That was when Nick stepped in to help me. He didn’t know me, but I had seen him around campus and at a few parties. We’ve been friends ever since that night. I had no idea why Megan cheated, and with my best friend to top it off because neither of them spoke to me after that day. She broke my heart; I hurt for a long time. She wouldn’t even talk to me or explain anything, just said she was sorry and walked away.

“I’m waiting,” Nick pointed out, bring back to the present and I went on to explain what happened.

“Something was off today. She seemed nervous. She rushed to her door and I noticed her hands were shaking when she tried to open her door. I started walking towards her and she told me to stop.”

“Did you?”

“Of course I did, you asshole. She was already upset; I wasn’t going to upset her more. Anyways, she said she was fine, blurted out her name, then rushed inside her apartment.”

“Anything else different?” he asked. “Like her outfit?” Nick knows everything about our past interactions.

“Clothes, bags, sunglasses—all the same.” I finished drinking my shake and rinsed my cup out.

“Did she happen to take off her sunglasses this time?”

“Nope.”

“Huh,” he said as he scratched his chin thinking.

I was thinking the same thing but I had made progress. “I’m hoping this means she’ll start talking to me.”

“Fuck, if you were getting laid I’d say you were pussy whipped.” I laughed it off even though he was right. “You know I’m right,” he insisted, though I ignored him.

I wasn’t whipped. I liked her. I wanted to know her. I wanted to know what happened to make her this way. I wanted to know why today was different. Something happened. Now I would have to wait a week until I see her again.

It was time to change the subject. “You still need me to fill in tomorrow?” Nick had fired one of the bar-backs and wasn’t able to replace him yet.

“Yep.”

“Good. I could use the extra hours. My boss doesn’t pay me enough.”

He slapped his hand on the island. “Your boss is fucking awesome!”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Eh, he’s alright.”

“Dickhead.” He jumped to his feet. “Let’s go. I need a haircut” He gets his haircut every four weeks like clockwork. He goes to the same place, same girl. The first and only time I tagged along I knew immediately why. She had a nice rack and Nick was a boob man. It helped she always wore low cut shirts and washed his hair prior to cutting it.

“Why the hell do I want to watch you get a haircut again?”

“Now that you know her name it’s going to be worse. I thought you had it bad before but I can see it now, you’ll get even moodier as the week goes on. You’ll be more of an asshole than usual, and I heard your boss doesn’t like assholes,” he teased.

Mondays are the hardest. It takes all my strength not to get up and knock on her door because I know she’s home. I’m holding out that someday she’ll surprise me and knock on my door.

“Fine. Let me get ready.”

“This is why I’m your best friend!” he shouted as I walked away to get my shirt and shoes on. “I know you, Linc. I know you very well.”

I walked back into the living room where he was waiting by the door. “I love you, man,” he says like he’s choking up with emotion. Fake emotion.

“Fuck off, dude,” I said with a smile.

“What the hell, Linc?” he faked being heartbroken and even put his hand over his heart. “You don’t love me back?”

“Get your ass out of my apartment.” I grabbed my keys and followed him out. I looked at her door while locking mine and hoped that she was okay.

Next thing I know, another week had gone by. Today was Monday Number Ten. I got ready for my run and froze when I got to the front door.  Lying on the floor was a black post-it-note with white writing on it. I picked it up and opened it.

It read:
Pinky was a stupid nickname.

Ashton. She had left me a note. Of course, I didn’t see her, but the surprise made my adrenaline rush through me, and I hadn’t even started my run yet.

Two Mondays in a row the girl made me feel like I had won the lottery. I went and taped the note to my fridge. Fuck, I’ve got it real bad.  I wasn’t going to give up now. I smiled and headed out for my run. In less than two hours, I’d see her again. My hopes were high.

I had a good feeling about today.

Again, Thanks for reading!

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