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“It was very good.”
“Better than Brant?”
The question startled me, slapped me in the face like a bucket of ice. “Actually, no.”
“Now that is news. How did Brant take it?”
“Well, we decided to be friends. Kieran, on the other hand, says he can’t be just friends with me and I told him to move out.”
“He’s a fucking asshole and so is April. She just wanted what you had. It didn’t have anything to do with wanting anything from Kieran. She was just jealous.”
“Isn’t she your friend?”
Rosa snorted. “No, she’s one of those women who just becomes part of the group, but you’re really okay without her. She never had anything nice to say. She was fun to drink with and when I’m feeling mean-girl, she’s a good time. But if push came to shove, I wouldn’t trust her. Now I see that I’m right not to.”
I swallowed and decided to bite the bullet and tell her what I’d decided about the house. “I’m selling the house.”
“Good.”
“Really?”
“What, did you expect me to tell you not to? No way. You’ll have more money to live on while Chubbalicious takes off. And it will take off, I know it will.”
I could fucking cry. I couldn’t believe I’d been so willing to let this relationship go just to get away from April. Rosa believed in me. More importantly, she embodied everything I wanted for Chubbalicious. She believed in herself.
“I think I love you.”
“Bitch, you better.” She laughed.
“So what’s happening with you and Gavin?”
“Nothing. He was a good time, but I don’t want to date him. I think he and April would actually be very good together.”
“Was he a dick?”
“Not exactly. He’s ready to be forty.”
“What does that mean?” I snorted.
“He wants the yard, the dog, the fucking Volvo and he wants it now. I’m twenty-two. I want to backpack across Europe, I want to take classes just to take them. I want to quit my job just because I fucking can and not worry about my 401K or what kind of roses to send to the bosses wife. I want to write a book, I want to do everything.”
“That makes sense. There are some things more important than money.”
“So if you sell the house, are you moving to crack central or Volvo land?” she asked.
“Beamer land, actually. Ryan’s friend is looking for a roommate and the rent is unbeatable.” Couldn’t go wrong with free.
“Look at you, getting all fancy.”
I looked out onto the carefully planned “outside living area” and I realized I could watch the stars by the pool, swim in the glow of the downtown lights.
“You can come be fancy with me. I’m moving in two weeks.”
“Does Kieran know you’re selling the house?”
“No, and I don’t want to tell him either.”
“Okay. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t want me to.”
“How’s Hollie?”
“April is so pissed at her too. She’s been spending all of her time with Austin.”
“Good for her. He’s really nice.” I was happy for her.
“I’ll catch her up on everything when she falls back to earth. I think they’ve decided to move in together too.”
“That’s fast.” I hadn’t expected that. Especially not with Austin’s daughter.
“Insta-family.” I could hear the shrug in Rosa’s voice. “But they’re stupid for each other, so I’m not going to poo-poo it.”
I laughed. “I love how you can say fuck and still legitimately use the term ‘poo-poo’ in a sentence.”
“That’s just how I roll.”
“I’m at the new digs right now, so I should probably go. They’re waiting on me. You’re going to like my new roomie, I think.”
“I bring you a housewarming pressie.”
“Dinner party by the pool.”
“That’s all you had to say.”
“Thanks, Rosa.”
“Anytime. Catch you soon.”
I hung up and looked around my new kingdom, feeling like maybe I’d finally taken a right turn.
16
When I got home, Kieran was gone.
It was as if he’d never been there—at least as far as physical traces of him. He didn’t leave anything in his bathroom, no stray cake of soap, no towel hanging over the shower. His room was empty and barren. The bed he’d slept on was there, but it had been there when he moved in. There were no sheets, just the bare mattress perched on the rails.
Even the kitchen… his coffee cup was gone.
