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She collapses into sobs against h her body She’s trying to rief, I know-- over e and internships and every other ht it, Goddaht has drained out of ht

I’m all they have And whether it’s ht I could escape all this, and build a life ofhere in the wreckage of the past, surrounded by broken dreams––dreams I smashed with etting out Hell, maybe it’s what I deserve The punishment for my crimes, to live here in his shadow forever, and never be free

"Fine," I whisper,Britdown for like, fiveover fro pointedly around the einary customers?" I ask I’ainst the cabinets "I hate to break it to you, but su to be dead until next May"

"Which et by without another waitress," Garrett points out

I rollout here all alone You’ll die of boredom"

Garrett shakes his head with a, instead of just killing ti down the surface and gives , self-conscious "He called a couple of days ago Said everything was fine, that he’d try and talk to me today…" I trail off "I’rees, too quickly

I look up "What’s that supposed to ot a ton of shit to catch up on It’s just…" heyou like this It’s been a week no long does it take to send a da not to flinch at the sharp blade of insecurity that slices through ht, and I wish to God he wasn’t It’s been forever since I left Hunter in that hospital, and even though I toldto be fine, with every day that passes, my reassurances sound more like naïve hope than the truth He said he would call, but every time Hunter picks up the phone, he’s distracted and distant, and we barely have a chance to talk before he gets cut short by soot with his folks He says it’s ies with theer, waiting for his response to ht, it didn’t co works both ways, you know," Garrett notes He pulls out a can of Diet Coke fro "I know, but whenever I do call it’s a bad ti worse than the nervous anxiety of waiting for his calls, it’s dialing his nu the crash of disappointht down a spiral of self-doubt, wondering if all the things he toldat his feet; if he only ever liked the thrill of the chase, and now that I’ve given it all up to hiht dead in its tracks I believe in him, I have to

"Any plans later?" Garrett asks, blatantly trying to change the subject

Hemuch" I reply "I’h"

"That’s awesolow of pride With all ress

"I don’t know," I hedge, "Soet it perfect before I risk cutting the pattern on the fabric for real"

"Wanna take a break, watch a ure on shutting this place down early Maybe grab soive him a smile It’s clear he wants to distractby?"

He shrugs "No girl right now"

"What?" I exclaiirl!"

Garrett looks bashful "I don’t know, I guess I could use a break So ed," he jokes "A h "More likely, they got together and decided to post a warning: Beware,"It’s him!" I slide down fro?"

"Hey," As usual, Hunter’s voice sounds distant, in a way that has nothing to do with the quality of the cell line "Sorry I didn’t call last night My parents had tickets to the opera, and I couldn’t get away"

"That’s OK," I s back reat," Hunter says "He dragged olf It’s like nothing ever happened"

"I’ ho pause

"They want er," Hunter says at last "There’s a bunch of stuff to deal with at the co too much on his own The least I can do is help out, after everything that’s happened," he adds, and it sounds as if he’s parroting his ht back to me "It’s fa a cold chill sweep through uys take care of things" Hunter says

What about me? I want to cry I need hi selfish "How long do you think it’ll take, to get things figured out there?" I try my best to sound supportive "Another couple of days?"

He doesn’t answer

My heart catches "Next week?" I try

Hunter exhales a long breath, sounding stressed "I don’t know, Brit It’ll take as long as it takes"

I clench my fists into my palms "I miss you, is all," I tell him softly

"I miss you too" Hunter’s voice softens for the first time "I’m sorry about all this bullshit, Brit, I really a ether "You do whatever you need I’ll be here"

"Thank you" A voice coo, I have a lunch with some of the partners I’ll try and call you later"