Desperate Chances

“That’s not an issue, Viv. Not anymore.” I drew myself upright, holding my robe closed with one hand and gripping my clothes in the other.

“Okay. Well good. Just please think about coming by. I’d like to show you the place. I need to know you’re okay with all this. I don’t want you to feel as though I’m leaving you high and dry,” Vivian said.

I squeezed Vivian’s arm as I stepped into the bathroom. “You’re moving in with your boyfriend. That’s how things are supposed to go, Viv. You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be fine. I promise.” Vivian didn’t look convinced. “Okay, I’ll come by after I leave my parents. I can’t wait to see it.”

Vivian relaxed. “Great! Thank you, G!” She gave me a hug and I dropped my clothes on the floor in her exuberance. We both laughed.

“Okay, now let me get ready. I’ve got places to go and people to see,” I teased, closing the door in her face.

“Well hurry up. I need to do my hair and the light in my room is horrible!” Vivian called out.

After I was finished getting dressed, I checked my phone again.

Still nothing.

My thumb hovered over the keys and I was tempted to send him a text. But what would I say?

Did you dump your girlfriend yet?

Or how about what the hell is your problem? How could you kiss me and drive off like that? What’s wrong with you?

I could always settle on a string of expletives to get my point across.

I sighed. This was ridiculous. I couldn’t leave things like this.

I couldn’t live life in the backseat.

I grabbed my purse. “Vivian, I’m heading out. I’ll see you later tonight,” I yelled.

“Where are you going? You haven’t even had your coffee yet! That’s suicidal!” Vivian said, poking her head out from her room.

I pulled on my coat and wrapped a scarf around my neck. “I—uh—I’ve got something to do this morning. I’ll tell you later.”

Vivian gave me a knowing look. “Okay then, well, tell me later.”

Then I realized I was without wheels. That put a significant cramp in my Go-Gracie-you-can-do-it mood.

“Can I borrow your car? Just until I can pick mine up later this afternoon?” I asked her.

Vivian nodded. “Cole can give me a lift to work, not a problem. We can meet up after you leave work to get your car.” She tossed me her keys and I gave her a grateful smile.

“Thanks, Viv, you’re the best.”

I left quickly, before I could talk myself out of the craziness I had planned.

I drove the entire way to Garrett’s house with knots in my stomach.

What was I doing?

Why was I driving out there first thing in the morning?

I pulled my car up beside Garrett’s van and got out. I didn’t see Mitch’s car.

Shit. He wasn’t home.

I stood there, feeling like a fool for a long time.

What would I have even said if he had been there?

“Hey you. What are you doing here at nine in the morning?”

I glanced up to the porch to see Garrett in a tattered pair of jeans and a T-Shirt, a duffel bag at his feet.

“Uh, well, I’m not really sure,” I told him honestly.

Garrett unlocked the front door and pushed it open. “Well, I just got here. I just got off a two-hour flight and I hate the airport. I need to de-funk, stat. Why don’t you come in and I’ll make some coffee. You’ve got that I-haven’t-mainlined-caffeine look on your face.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, okay. Sounds good.”

Garrett dropped his bag just inside the door turned up the thermostat. “Fuck me, it’s freezing in here. Mitch has a serious aversion to turning the heat up.”

We walked into the kitchen and Garrett went straight to the coffee maker and dumped the remains of an earlier pot into the sink. It looked like Mitch had been home this morning.

But where had he gone so early?

“Milk and sugar right?” Garrett asked and I nodded, sitting down at the table.

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