We let our nails dry in the air machine, and I felt a little bit better as we spoke and laughed. Sarah was a great person to talk to when you felt crappy. Still, thoughts of Ash burned in my mind. Maybe I really should give Tim a chance. He was nice, and it would help me forget about Ash.
My phone rang. I answered, holding the phone close to my ear and plugging up my other ear with my finger so I could hear my dad in the crowded shopping plaza.
“Hey sweetie!” he said.
“Hey,” I replied.
“Listen, I wanted to ask if this was okay, but I just got offered a two month HVAC gig at a facility in Germany. They’re putting in a new resort and need people right away,” he told me.
I smiled, ecstatic. “Oh, wow! That’s so great!”
“Yes. But I wouldn’t be able to have you here for break, and I need to rent out my place in order to cover the costs,” he said, his voice faltering a little.
I took a deep breath. “No problem. I can stay somewhere else. You have to take this opportunity. It’s like a dream come true,” I said, keeping my voice even.
“Thank you, hon. I promise we will spend a lot of time together when I get back.”
“All right! And congrats. We will talk more later. Can’t wait to hear about it,” I said, genuinely happy for him.
“All right! Buh-bye! Love you!”
“Love you too!” I replied, and we hung up. “Shit…”
“What?” Sarah asked.
“I can’t stay with my dad over break,” I said, my heart sinking. Sarah frowned, shaking her head. “You’re going to be gone all month with your parents too, right? On your Alps vacation?”
“Yeah. But you could come,” she said.
“I’m not going to invade your family thing like that. I’ve imposed on them enough. I have no choice but to go to New York for winter break,” I said, my voice shaking nervously.
“But won’t Gary let you use his card for rent?” she asked.
“Yeah, I guess, but it would really hurt his feelings if I didn’t stay there instead.”
“Ugh!” Sarah said. “Are you really going to stay there?”
“I’ll have to. What other choice do I have?” A small part of me was happy—the part of me that wanted to see Ash.
ASHTON
“Amy is coming home for break!” Emma said cheerfully.
I nearly spat out my drink. “What?” I asked, disbelief washing over me.
“Her dad has a job in Germany for the next two months, and her friend Sarah is going on some kind of a family trip, so she’s coming here!”
My dad, Emma, and I were hanging out in the den. My dad and I were drinking a beer and watching a game. Emma was knitting, her newest endeavor.
“That’s great,” I said, a mixture of nervousness and excitement in my gut.
I had been looking at Amy’s profile obsessively, seeing her pictures from the dance the night before. It looked like she had a good time, and besides the soccer player putting his arm around her, I didn’t see anything else happen. I wanted to rip his arm off, though.
My phone buzzed.
Jen: We need to talk, like now.
Ashton: Okay. About what?
Jen: You’re not going to want to hear this, but I have to tell you.
I left the room and dialed her.
“What’s up?” I said.
“I’m tired of your bullshit, and someone else wants to date me, so you’re history,” she said, her voice whiney.
I furrowed my brow, taken aback by her immature tone. “Okay? Congrats. I mean, I understand.”
“That’s all you’re going to say? Congrats? What the hell is that? What the hell are we—and who the hell are you?” she yelled. Her voice began to shake like she was crying.
I pulled the phone away from my ear, grimacing. Emma and my dad looked over, confused. I muttered obscenities to myself, running upstairs so I could have some privacy.
“I don’t understand what you want from me. The whole time we’ve both been dating other people, so it’s not like I led you on,” I said. I hadn’t led her on, but I felt bad that I hadn’t stopped the sex when I realized she was developing feelings.
“It’s her, isn’t it?” she said abruptly.
Terror came over me. “What?”
“Your stepsister. Don’t tell me you don’t have the hots for her. I’ve seen the way you look at her, and ever since she left, you’ve been a big fucking baby.” Her voice was tinged with ridicule.
“You’re crazy,” I lied, “that’s not what’s going on at all.”
She laughed spitefully. “I knew you were a fucking loser, but I didn’t realize how much until now. I’m done with you,” she said. “Oh, and by the way, he’s here now and I’m about to give him a blow job.”
“Fuck you,” I replied. I hung up the phone, all kinds of emotions washing over me, ones I wanted to ignore. I did care about her, but she was right. I still had a thing for Amy, and I was excited she was coming here for break.
I threw my phone on my bed. I cracked open another beer and sat down. I thought love was supposed to be simple. At least, that’s how I always imagined it would be. It turned out to be anything but.
I walked downstairs to join Emma and my dad again. Emma was on the phone, smiling and laughing. She hung up and said, “It’s official. Amy will be here in four weeks!”
I took another swig of my beer. Oh boy.
AMY