“Fuck!” I yell out at the empty apartment, grabbing my running shoes and jamming my feet in.
I need to clear my head, find my center. I can’t letonegirl I’ve known foroneweek throw me off my hard-earned equilibrium like this.
The sound of my feet hitting the pavement pounds in my ears, the people in the street are a blur as I push harder and harder until I can barely breathe, then I force myself to go faster, beyond the point of healthy and comfortable.
I keep going like that for a few minutes longer until my lungs are screaming, my mind is blurry, and I feel like I’m about to hurl.
Cutting left, I go into a small community park and collapse on a bench. Aside from a few other runners and the occasional couple walking hand in hand, It’s blissfully empty at this hour. I close my eyes and lean back, willing oxygen into my system.
Then I realize I didn’t bring any water with me.I’m not going to survive two months at this rate.
Forcing my eyes to focus, I spot an open café across the street and push myself up on wobbly feet. Another deep breath, and I take a step, cringing when every muscle in my body cries out for mercy, but I keep my forward movement.
My phone pings halfway to my destination, but I know that if I stop to look at it, I’ll lose momentum. Somewhere between my knees wanting to give out and my thighs bursting into flames, I decide it’s time to call Davey. I need to tell him about my living arrangement with Lauren, have him yell at me, order me to do what I should have done on day one, and move out.
Smiling apologetically at the clerk who scrunches her nose when I walk in, drenched in sweat and probably smelling accordingly, I order three bottles of water. Drinking an entire bottle in one go, then stepping outside and wandering back to my bench, where I spill half of another bottle over my head and release a relieved sigh.
With my penchant for self-destruction, I’m surprised I stopped before I actually threw up or passed out, which is why Lauren is dangerous. If she stirs this much unrest now, in a few more weeks, I’ll find myself spiraling out of control.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I unlock the screen with full intent to call Davey, have him chew my head off then screw it back on straight. But then I see what the earlier ping was. A message from Lauren, and I can’t resist opening it just like I can’t help but stay in the apartment with her.
Lauren:How you holding up without me, Cupcake?
Michael:Awful. You?
Lauren:Considering stabbing myself just so I’d have an excuse to leave.
Michael:Told you those things are dreadful.
Lauren:OMG, a guy is peeing. On stage! And people are giving him a standing ovation. What has the world come to?
Picturing Laurens’ face right now, I burst into laughter, wondering how many points I’ll earn if I swoop in and kidnap her mid-play.
Lauren:Why am I even here, Mikey?
Michael:Hattie asked, and you couldn’t refuse.
Lauren:Right. I think I need to work on my tendency for people-pleasing.
Michael:I think you’re perfect just the way you are, honey.
Lauren:Always the charmer. See you at home?
Michael:Can’t be soon enough, Rockstar.
Lauren:Hang in there, Cupcake. Remember, it’s another couple of hours for you that will seem like a decade to me.
I smile and pull up my contacts, dialing Davey. It’s almost midnight back in Boston, but I know he had a video conference with Taiwan, so he should still be in the office.
“David Edwards.” His no-nonsense business tone has me rolling my eyes.
“Did you even check who was calling before answering?”
“Didn’t have to. You have your own ringtone.”
“Seriously?” I frown. “What is it?”
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” he answers in that same intonation as if he’s telling me about the latest developments in the stock exchange.Scratch that. He’d be uber excited if he’d be talking about those.