Did she feel nothing? Was it that easy to reject him? Even when he was being so open about his desires and love...
He exhaled, recovering himself, deciding to mimic her indifference, and picked up his own mug. He took a sip and cringed at the temperature of his coffee.
"So, do you wanna catch a movie or something?" she asked.
"S-sure! What d-do you wanna watch?" He put his mug aside and rested his crossed arms on the railing.
"I don't know, nothing new. How aboutErin Brockovich?"She pulled a patio chair forward and sat. He did the same.
"Who's the lead?"
"Julia Roberts."
He raised his hands in surrender. "I'm in."
She giggled. "I know what you mean. She's my girl crush."
He couldn't help but smile—her laughter had that kind of an effect on him. He parted his lips to reply but got cut off by the beep of his phone. It was Abby.
He sighed. Why couldn't he just get over Giselle and get on with his life? A beautiful woman waited for him, then why couldn't he stop obsessing over his best friend?
He opened his inbox and read the message.
Abigail: I don't know why you don't have time for me anymore. You asked me to come over, and now I'm standing outside your house, and I just saw you on the balcony with Giselle! I'm so done! If she's the one you wanna spend your time with, then don't ask me to come!
His eyes widened at the screen. "Uh-oh!"
"Uh-oh, what?" asked Giselle.
"Red alert. My girlfriend is mad at me."
"Ooh, girlfriend," she teased as he got up. "No, but where are you going?"
"She's at my door. Gotta go." He turned to leave, but paused and looked at her. "Will you be all right?"
"Of course." She smiled and then mumbled, "Shrek."
He grinned. "Dracula."
"Later!" she called after him, and he ran toward his house.
Abby stood at the door, her arms folded over her red sweater. She eyed him as he jogged toward her.
He opened his arms, but she shook her head and said, "Just let me in."
He opened the door in silence, and Abby headed in before him. He turned around toward Giselle's house. She was still on the balcony. He traced his thumb on his neck and mouthed, "I'm dead." Giselle gave him a double thumbs up for good luck. He grinned, then sighed and got back in after Abby.
They sat in the living room on opposite sofas.
"Are you mad at me?" he softly asked.
"Yes, Chris. I'm very mad at you." Her curly hair shook as she emphasized each word with a nod of her head.
He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. I forgot that you were coming, or else I would've stayed home. And what's the issue even about, Abby? I was just next door."
She huffed. "Do you think it's about you not being at the door for me?"
"Yeah...?"