Still, I will not win this battle.
Not today.
“Fine.”
My roommate—correction, EX-roommate—nods. “Fine.”
Fine.
“Are you at least going to give me time to find somewhere else to go?”
I have zero options.
This couldn’t have come at a more terrible time. Midterms are approaching, which means I’ll have to study my ass off.
“I was thinking next weekend. I’ll be in Arkansas for an away game on Saturday, and Lilly has her grandparents’ fiftieth anniversary party.”
“You’re giving me a week?” Is she out of her freaking mind?!
“Please—that’s plenty of time.”
On what planet is that considered plenty of time?!
“You cannot make me move out in a matter of days.” I’m half off the bed, wanting to argue, knowing it’s futile.
“No, but we can make it hell for you if you’re not gone when I get back.”
After she leaves, I stand and move to the carpet, sitting cross-legged on the floor, stupefied. I’ve never been fired from a job or kicked out of an apartment before—I’m not sure how to handle these feelings.
Guilt.
Shame.
Embarrassment.
Even if they’d allow me to stay, I don’t think I could have lived here much longer; I wouldn’t be able to move around the house without the storm cloud of regret hanging over my head.
Nor would Kaylee ever let me live in peace.
This is not how I wanted her to find out about Jack and me.
I wonder if I would even have told her, or if I would’ve just broken things off with Jack so I’d never have to fess up.
Surely I would have told her.
On my own terms, when the time was right.
When I was sure there was something to tell her about.
The thing with Jack…isn’t a sure thing. We haven’t gone out on a proper date, and I’ve been kicked out of my house! The kisses we shared weren’t even life-shattering!
And I’ve been kicked out of my house!
Surely I would have told Kaylee when I had the courage. I would have found a way.
Now?
Now we will never know.
Jack: How’s your day going?
I stare at Jack’s messages, not sure how to reply. I’ve been miserable, crying on and off since last night—since Kaylee busted into my bedroom to evict me.
As it were, I’m sitting on the floor, folding the winter clothes from my closet and placing them into cardboard boxes, not the task I thought I’d be doing this weekend.
I had to hunt these boxes down by dumpster-diving at the grocery and hardware stores because I cannot afford to buy plastic bins to store and move my things in.
Me: Not great.
Jack: Maybe we can hang out? I could make you feel better?!!?!
He adds a few exclamation points, and I know he’s used them to be optimistic and make me smile. And they do, just a little.
Me: Nothing you can do can fix this problem. I’m screwed.
Jack: What happened?
Me: I don’t want to talk about it. If I do, I’ll start crying again.
Jack: Do you want me to come over?
Me: GOD NO, PLEASE DON’T!
Jack: Okay…I won’t. But you should tell me what’s wrong, maybe I can help.
Me: Nope, don’t think you can.
Jack: Eliza…
Me: Fine. Okay. I’ll tell you.
Me: Are you ready? Are you sitting down?
Jack: Indeed.
Me: My roommates are kicking me out.
Jack: Kicking you out…of what?
Me: The house.
Jack: Why? Are they throwing you a surprise party?
Me: No, Jack—they’re KICKING ME OUT. Like—I have to move. They’re renting out my room. Out out. Not just for the night—for good.
Jack: WHAT? WHY?
Me: Kaylee…saw a post of us on the internet—the one of us at Lords where you’re flirting with me—and she lost her shit.
Jack: She’s kicking you out because I like you???
Me: Yes.
Jack: What a fucking twat.
Me: JACK!
Jack: I’m sorry, love, but she’s being a fucking twat. What else do you want me to say?
Me: I don’t know—not that.
Jack: That’s my sweet girl, all the way to the end.
I’m not though. Not really.
If I were, I wouldn’t have been secretly snogging him behind my roomie’s back.
Jack: What the hell are you going to do?
Me: I don’t know—crash on someone’s couch, I guess? Go home? I don’t know. So far I haven’t found a place to go.
Jack: I’m sorry.
Me: I know. Me too.
Me: I really can’t believe this is happening. I knew she’d be mad, but I never thought she’d kick me out of the house. I have nowhere to go and she knows it.
Me: If she wants me to beg her to stay here, she’s out of her mind. I will not do it.
Jack: I have an idea.
Me: At this point, I’m open to ANY suggestions that don’t have me sleeping on a park bench.
Jack: Now hear me out and don’t jump to conclusions, okay?
Me: Uh, okay…
Jack: I have a spare bedroom. You can come and live with me.
I almost drop my phone, so stunned am I by his words. The suggestion.
Live with him?
Live with him, not stay with him.