Ashton

I don't know what to make of what happened last night.

  I don't know why I invited Oliver over, other than to be a friend. But things got serious, fast, and I'm still in shock that he kissed me and then left the way he did.

  He kissed me. I kissed him.

  I'm glad for this random Monday off, because I'm still in bed at noon. This is so unlike me. I'm in pajamas and I've already watched two movies - random chick flicks on Netflix. I'm drinking my second coffee when my phone rings, and my heart stops beating for a split second. If it's Oliver, I don't know I'll say or do.

  Thankfully, once I reach for it and see it's Christina, I relax a bit.

  "Hey," I answer.

  "Hi, are you on your lunch break?" she asks. It's a video call and I notice immediately that she sounds off. She's not even really looking at me, if she was, she'd see I'm wearing pajamas.

  I clear my throat and let out a small laugh. "Um, no. I'm home today-"

  "You took a day off? That's unlike you." She doesn't even let me finish.

  "Yeah, well, my boss insisted. Plus, I needed it. I've just been laying in bed and I'm still in pjs."

  "Are you sick?" she wants to know.

  "Nope." I pause, because I wonder if I need to tell her about kissing Oliver now. "Angela just gave me a day off."

  "Nice!" Christina says with a bit more enthusiasm. I can tell by her face that she's faking it, though. "I'm excited to get home."

  "Yeah? You miss me that much?" I ask her with a smile.

  She sighs again. That's too much sighing. Something is definitely wrong.

  "You okay?" I want to know, adjusting my phone a bit.

  She hesitates, which I really don't like. "I guess I'm just homesick? Or something."

  Christina doesn't sound like herself. She's been away for awhile but every time we talk, she seems herself. Bubbly, cheerful. Right now I'm concerned. At least she's coming home in a couple of days.

  "Let's get sushi on Wednesday when I get home from work and catch up?" I suggest. 

  She smiles, but it's forced. "Sounds perfect."

  "I have a lot to tell you," I add, and then give her a smile.

  "Yeah... me too," she finishes.

  I'm so concerned about her behaviour on the call that I text her a couple of hours later, just to check in. She says she'll tell me about it when she gets home, which only eases my mind a little.

  I don't hear from Oliver that day. For some reason, I expect I will. But he doesn't call or text, so I let it go. He was upset. We kissed. No big deal. He's done working with me and I shouldn't have invited him over last night. Lesson learned.

  I throw myself into work the next day, so I don't have to think about Oliver or what might be up with Christina. I'm really busy all day and don't even take a lunch, and it's after 6P.M. before I finally head home.

  Can't wait til tomorrow, I text Christina, because I haven't heard from her all day.

  Same, see you soon, she replies right away. 

  Wednesday drags on. I have a lot to do but I seem to be quite distracted. The morning meet flies by and Angela tells me about my next project, and then I get to my office to pull up some client files before getting started. There's an email from Johnny Santos.

  Hi Ashton,

I know we talked last night and I also spoke with your boss, Angela, but I just wanted to let you know that I've gotten so many compliments on the website and the new logos and signs. We love them, it's exactly what we needed. I do have some follow up and some things that need to be added to the site, I was hoping you could help with that? I'll include in in this email. Thanks again,

       Johnny.

  So, I guess I'm not done with the Santos project. At least this is only me in contact with Mr. Santos and not Oliver. It's been three full days since he kissed me in my apartment and took off, so as far as I'm concerned, that's that. 

  When it's finally 5P.M., I pack up and then head down to say goodbye to Angela. She's busy with a client, but waves at me through the window. I am heading down to the elevator when my phone buzzes. I ignore it for now and get down to the parking garage, but when I get into my car I slip out my phone and take a look.

  There's two new texts.

  The first one is from Christina. My flight was delayed but I'll be landing at 5:20P.M. Can you pick me up from the airport?

  She was supposed to be by 4P.M. and she was planning to take a cab from the airport half an hour away back to our apartment. This changes everything.

  Me: Of course. I will be there a bit after 5:30P.M.

  And then I toss my bag into the back seat and start my car, getting out of there as soon as I can. I don't even check the other text, because I know I'm already going to be late to pick her up. I can't wait to see her. Luckily, there's not much traffic getting to the airport. I text her when I arrive in the guest parking and she says she's just waiting for her suitcase and she'll be out soon.

  That's when I remember about the other text message.

  Oliver: Hey. I'm sorry I've been MIA. Can we meet up?

  That came in at 4:30P.M. Now, though, I'm irritated with him. He can't just come and go in my life as he pleases, even if we are just going to be friends. I know he had a break up and he was acting like there was more to it than that, but still. This is unacceptable.

  So, as much as it pains me, I ignore it. I don't reply. I leave him on read, tucking my phone back away again just as I see my best friend coming through the main doors of the airport.

  Pushing open my car door, I jump out and practically run over towards her. She's pulling a suitcase on wheels and has a big bag over her shoulder. I feel so relieved, like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders, just seeing her. Her hair is down and she's wearing a hoodie and sweat pants, but her smile is genuine. I wrap her in my arms and feel tears in my eyes as it hits me all at once how much I really missed her.

  "God, stop," she says with a laugh. "I'm not crying today."

  I wipe at my eyes and then grab her bag to carry it back to my car for her. "Sorry."

  "It's so good to see you," she tells me, following just behind.

  I pop open the trunk and we drop her bags inside and then go around and get into the car. She looks over at me, her eyes wide. She really looks like she might burst into tears.

  "Jesus, Christina. Are you okay?" I want to know, as serious as I can be.

  And that does it. I feel horrible, but a moment later my best friend is sobbing, covering her face with her hands. I turn towards her, confused.

  "I'm... no, I'm not." Her words are like knives to my stomach.

  "What? What do you mean?" I want to know, reaching for her hand.

  She lets me hold it. "Oh god, I've been trying to keep this from you... because I really didn't want to..."

  "Christina, what?" I can't stand not knowing what's bothering her.

  Her eyes leave mine and she looks out the side window. "I broke up with Ben."

  I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this.

  "Oh my god, what?" I say, without thinking. "You should have told me. When did this happen?"

  She sobs again and wipes her eyes, and then finally looks at me again. "He... he hooked up with some girl he was working with."

  "What?!" I scream, even scaring myself. "No."

  "He... he admitted it to me on the weekend. He said he was drinking and it didn't mean anything but..."

  "I'm going to kill him. Oh god, if he ever thinks of showing his face-"

  Christina lets out a sad laugh. "Chill, girl. I think I'm still processing this... but... I'm home. I've got you."

  I fall forward and pull her into my arms again. "Yes, you've got me. But I'll still kill that asshole if I ever see him."

  "It was just a really shitty thing to find out... after I spent a month with him so far from you... ahh..."

  "He doesn't deserve you. He never did," I tell her, then pull away and look into her eyes. "Fuck. Let's go get some sushi and ice cream."

  "That sounds... amazing," Christina says and finally smiles.