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Lucy’s smile returns to her face and I find myself now indebted to Hannah.
The short ride is spent with Mia listing the celebrities who were in attendance and what they were wearing. Everyone is shocked that Lucy didn’t notice a single one.
I help Lucy out of the limo and walk her up to her apartment. She stops just outside her door, keys in hand, and turns to me. Before she can say anything, I say, “Lucy, I apologize about the photographers, I should have realized they would be out there.”
She grows distant once again like she was earlier when she pulled her hand from my leg. “No need to apologize, Henry. Thank you, I had a wonderful night.” Her tone sounds rigid and almost practiced.
“Yes, of course. Goodnight then.”
She quickly unlocks the door and hurries in. Before closing it, she turns back and says, “Goodnight.” I wait to hear the lock and make my way back to the limo.
Thirteen
LUCY
The soundof my text message alert pulls me from my peaceful slumber. Without looking I roll onto my opposite side and pull the covers over my head. If it is that important, a real emergency, they would have called and not text. It can’t be anything urgent.
After hours of tossing and turning, sometime after looking at the clock at 4:00 a.m., I must have finally fallen asleep. I don’t know what time it is now, but I do know I need more sleep. Flipping over without checking my phone, I attempt to get more rest.
But then, the text alert sounds twice more.
With a loudugh, I roll over to check it.
The Parasite
Hey, how’s things going across the pond?
I laugh as I remember Ellie changing John’s contact name in my phone to her nickname for him.
The Parasite
I was just wondering if you’re coming home for the holidays.
Maybe we could catch up, spend some time together…I miss you.
Hell no. I’m not answering. I can’t believe I woke up for that. I roll over and pull the covers back over my head. If only John knew his competition here.
No, not competition, because there is no situation where John would have a chance, and I would have to be seriously interested in Henry, which I’m definitely not.He’s not fictional and will certainly break my heart.
And more so, he is certainly not interested in me.
To top it all off, neither of us is interested in any kind of relationship. Well, I suppose Henry is interested in similar types of relationships John has.
No, that’s not fair. I shouldn’t compare the two. Henry is upfront with his partners that he is not looking for anything serious. According to everyone in our friend groups, John promises hearts and flowers to the girls he dates in secret. Whenever I ask if he’s dating someone, he denies it and never brings dates out when we hang out with our mutual friends.
I need to get my mind off of the two of them. It was difficult enough to stop thinking about Henry last night after admitting to myself that I’m starting to enjoy his company. He whispered in my ear again,only because the music was too loud to hear him otherwise.The volume of our conversation was not enhanced when I put my hand on his leg,but that didn’t stop me.He didn’t seem affected by itanyway. And I should not be affected by it either.But I am…a little.
Enough, I’ll count sheep until I fall back to sleep to keep myself from thinking of him.
A few hours later, I hear my text alert go off again. Looking over at the clock, I notice I’ve slept until the early afternoon. Picking up the phone, I find the text that woke me this time.
Henry
Coffee?
I smile. I much prefer waking up to a text from Henry than…well, anyone else. He apologized so many times last night after we left the bar. I’m sure he’s offering coffee to make up for it, but it didn’t bother me as much as he thinks. I certainly didn’t enjoy it and didn’t want to deal with the paparazzi again, but it was not his fault. I’m not angry or upset, what he was noticing was my reaction to the confusing feelings I can no longer ignore. There were moments when the evening did feel as if we were on a date. A very good date, probably the best I’ve ever had. Which makes it even more sad that it wasn’t a date at all.
I need some distance to process the events of last night and decide to decline his invitation.
