“Hazel, I-”
“This is Hazel. I can’t come to the phone right now but please leave me a message! I promise I’ll get back to you, no matter what time zone I’m in.”
Beep.
I click end on the call.
“No luck?” I ask.
“None, you?” Dylan says with a sigh.
He’s looking at me with a gaze that becomes weaker and more hopeless as the moments pass, glancing down at his phone every few seconds.
“Nope. It sounded like you had her for a minute.”
“It was her machine. I’ll try again.”
I click her number, but this time, the phone doesn’t even ring before I hear her voice.
“Hey! This is Hazel. I can’t come to the pho-”
“Goddamnit. She’s blocking my calls. Maybe you should-”
“Do you seriously think that would make a difference?”
I can tell he’s despondent. It’s my turn to show up for him, the way he always does for me when we’re piloting.
“It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
He nods and presses her photo on his phone. I don’t need to wait for his reaction because I can hear her voicemail from here.
“Okay, this is fine. She just needs some time and that’s understandable.”
Dylan’s nodding at me like his head might fall off his neck. I don’t know who I’m trying to convince with my words- him, or myself.
“I’d need time too if I found out I was only worth some stupid points to some chick we slept with.”
“Would you really?”
“Well, it depends on how many points.”
I can’t believe he’s making me chuckle despite all that’s going on.
“Whatever. Let’s just give her a little bit of time to herself. She needs her space, but we have to keep trying.”
Minutes that feel like day’s pass. My nerves are growing and getting worse, while Dylan’s are seemingly calming down. I take a shower and clean every inch of my home as we take turns calling and texting Hazel.
“Hazel? Please, I’m so sorry. You have to believe me when I say it onlystartedwith that stupid game. Our relationship grew beyond that though. You’re not a trophy or some point to me… to either of us. This is so much more than that. Please call me. We’re so sorry, please hear us out.”
Dylan slumps next to me on my couch. He’s sitting so close to me that my heart skips.
“I think she needs more time than a few hours. I’m going to head home.”
“Okay,” I say, nodding.
“Are you… all good?”
“Yeah, for sure. You?”
Dylan nods.
“Let me know if you hear anything from her. I’ll do the same.”
With that, he leaves and my life is emptier than it ever has been.