Phillip looked down at the tray in his hands and frowned. There sat a burnt English muffin, a cup of instant coffee and a box of tissues. It was pitiful, he knew it, but it would have to do, he wasn’t exactly prepared for a heartbroken houseguest. He kicked open his bedroom door and glanced at the unmade bed and his friend who had curled up into a ball in the center of it.
“Rise and shine, beautiful.” He sang cheerfully as he placed the pathetic tray on the night stand.
“Go away.” She muttered into the pillow.
“Well, at least you’re not thrashing anymore.” He said, thoughtfully and sat on the edge of the bed.
“It’s not funny Phillip!” She pushed the sheets off of her and turned around to face her friend that had consoled her through the night.
“No you’re right. I’m sorry.” He said sincerely as he slung his arm around her shoulders. The poor thing looked like she went through the ringer. “Will it make you feel better if I personally beat the crap out of Mr. Hot Stuff?”
Sam leaned her head against his shoulder and groaned. “Can you please not call him that?” She said as the events of the night before started to play over in her head again. She still couldn’t believe the irony of it all. The moment she let him into her heart willingly, the past resurfaced and broke her heart all over again. She glanced up at Phillip, tears welling in her bloodshot eyes. “Why does it have to hurt so badly?”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It hurts as much as you love him, and girlfriend you love that man more than the air you breathe.”
“A lot of good that did me.” She said as the tears fell down her cheeks. “I was so stupid to believe that I’d be enough for him.”
Phillip petted her hair almost as if he was on autopilot with his actions. He was just as exhausted as she was, being on duty when your best friend breaks up with the love of her life was grueling work. He yawned. “You know, Samantha, you don’t even know why she showed up.” He said considering that maybe there was a way to salvage this mess. Sam pushed against him and looked at him incredulously. Phillip sighed; clearly salvaging this was out of the question.
“It doesn’t matter why she was there. She flew across the country and showed up at his doorstep. I know why a girl does that, I am that girl!” She stood up and paced the length of his small bedroom. “I was the girl who originally flew across the country to be with Nick Foti. The stupid bitch is just following in my footsteps.” She rolled her eyes.
Phillip dropped his head in defeat. For the last twelve hours they had been on this roller coaster. She would cry one minute and then her anger would take over the next minute. “Please hurry, Mallory.” He whispered.
“What did you say?” Sam asked as she shot him a wary glare.
“Nothing, sweetheart, nothing at all.” Phillip lifted his head and crossed his heart. “I swear.”
Sam went back to pacing then stopped abruptly. “Where’s your phone?”
Phillip reached over to the night stand and unplugged his phone from the charger. He held it out to her. “Who are you calling?”
“My voicemail, I want to listen to my messages.” She said as she called her own phone number. The doorbell sounded and Phillip hurried out of the bedroom to answer it. He opened the door to Mallory, who greeted him with one hand on her hip.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?” She said not liking the early morning phone call demanding she get her ass to his apartment.
Phillip grabbed her arm and pulled her into the apartment. “She’s driving me crazy!” He said in a harsh whisper his eyes slightly bulging out of their sockets.
Mallory absorbed Phillip’s expression, her own eyes widened in surprise. “Whoa… it’s that bad?” She asked almost scared to find out the answer.
Phillip let go of his hold on Mallory and began to rummage through his liquor cabinet. He’d drink schnapps if he had too. Frazzled, he took a bottle of Irish Crème out of the cabinet and figured that was his best choice given the hour. He looked over at Mallory as he made his way into his kitchen. “I got to tell you, I don’t even know why she’s upset because she hasn’t told me what he did wrong.”
“Well, you said the friend he banged in Seattle showed up at his apartment.” Mallory said as she followed him into the kitchen.
“Sssh! Keep your voice down, or crazy will come in here!” He said as he poured himself a drink.
Mallory eyed him cautiously. “I’m pretty sure I’m looking at crazy.”