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Against every proper etiquette that has been ingrained in me, I shove the rest of the cookie in my mouth so both hands are free, catching theirs.
“Yes, please.” Except, it sounds nothing like that, but the girls seem to know what I mean before we all burst out laughing. Somehow, I manage to keep every morsel of that cookie in my mouth.
Halfway through the movie, the doorbell rings.
“That should be the wings we ordered,” Courtney shrieks, leaping over the back of the sofa with her long legs. Avery pauses the movie and offers to refill my water.
“Thanks, I’m just going to use the bathroom real quick.” I haven’t had a moment to myself since I got here, which is exactly what I needed, but this intermission has my eyes watering again.
I close the door and look at my reflection. My makeup is nonexistent and my eyes are a little puffy and pink, but not as terrible as I expected. I run the cold water and splash some on my face, grabbing one of Courtney’s rolled up wash clothes to dab it dry. I look around trying to see where she moved her hamper to since I came over with Tommy last week but can’t find it.
Nope, not thinking about him right now. I’m going to have to drink a ton of water just to rehydrate from all my tears so far.
As I reach for the doorknob, I hear Courtney whisper-yelling something that I can’t quite make out. I frown and pause, taking a breath as I clearly hear Courtney whisper, “Don’t you dare.”
But the door is already opening without my help, revealing a very frazzled looking Thomas Landen.
Chapter 58: Tommy
She’s here.
I have no idea what Courtney has been saying to me, but I know she tried to tug me back from opening the bathroom door. Sam locks the door, so the worst that’s going to happen is I’ll jiggle the handle. Thankfully, it’s unlocked and I can check on her. God, my heart is still pounding a full hour since Maisy pulled me aside at Maybel’s.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, not bothering to hide the desperation in my voice. My hands reach for her but don’t make contact in case I touch something sensitive. The thought of her being sick or in pain is still driving me crazy. I just need to know how to help her and I can calm down.
But she’s not answering me.
“Sam, I need to know how to help you, please.”
Her eyes look past me and Courtney pulls on my arm. “Let her breathe, Tommy, she’s in one piece.”
I realize that I just barged into the bathroom on someone who might be very ill.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I begin. “I’ve been losing my mind with worry and the moment Courtney said you were here I couldn’t even think about anything besides getting to you.”
“I’m okay now, there’s nothing you need to worry about. I’m in good hands.” She has a washcloth in her hands that she’s twisting up as tight as possible. That’s the only sign she’s upset if it wasn’t for the tight set of her jaw. It looks like she’s barely holding it together.
What the fuck happened?
“Did Maisy say something to you?” I ask, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice at how I somehow missed Maisy crossing paths with Sam. Sam’s eyes are pleading with Courtney.
“Dude,” Courtney says, her hand still holding my arm.
Why does Courtney sound so frustrated? And with me?
“What?” I turn and ask her, trying with every fiber of my being to not snap at one of my best friends as Avery comes down, her eyes wide.
“I asked you to explain upstairs and you barge in like a fucking bull, ignore the fact that Sam was in the bathroom—”
“I apologized for that,” I mumble.
Courtney makes a frustrated sound. “You ignored that and now you’re asking her to tell you about Maisy? I love you, Tommy, but it sounds like you made your decision and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out why you’re rubbing it in.”
“What?” I ask again. I notice that Avery is now at Sam’s side, rubbing her back. “What decision did I make?”
Sam’s voice is so fucking small, it shreds my heart. “You left with Maisy.”
“I what?”
