When I looked in the mirror, I groaned. I should’ve told her to say that I needed a half hour , I thought bleakly as I ran a brush through my tangles of black hair. I look like absolute poop .
After splashing my face with water and soap, I dried off and pulled on a loose sweater and a pair of leggings. They were new – some of the clothes that Angela and I had picked out together. But putting them on only twisted my heart when I realized I wouldn’t need new clothes for work after all.
I swallowed nervously as I combed my hair into a manageable mane, then rolled it into a messy bun. With a swipe of blush and lip balm, I almost looked human again. Taking a deep breath, I opened my bedroom door. Thomas and Angela were sitting on the couch, side by side, looking stiff. When he saw me, Thomas’s face relaxed.
“Oh, god, June, I was so worried about you,” Thomas said sternly. He stood up and walked over to me, wrapping one arm around my shoulders and pulling me close.
“I’m sorry.” I blushed. “I fell asleep, I didn’t think I’d be out for more than a few hours but I didn’t wake up until just now.”
“It’s okay. Stress does strange things to our bodies.”
I nodded.
“June, can I take you out for breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry,” I said sadly. “I don’t really feel like going out, Thomas.”
“Come on,” Angela interjected. “You’ve been moping around here all day, and I know you didn’t eat anything yesterday.” She raised an eyebrow at me. “Can’t have my bestie going and getting sick on me.”
“I already feel sick,” I said.
“Well, then you need some coffee and maybe a fancy doughnut,” Thomas said. He winked at me and I tried to smile.
“I don’t think so,” I said.
“June.” Thomas gave me a stern look. “I care about you. Angela cares about you. You can’t stay inside and mope just because the school fucked up.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Fine,” I said. “You want me to come out? I’ll come out.” I stomped across the room and defiantly pulled on a jacket. When I glanced up, Angela was staring at me in shock. Thomas merely looked bemused.
“June, I just—“
“No,” Thomas said firmly. “She’s coming with me and that’s that.”
I followed Thomas out of my apartment, down the stairs, and into a waiting car.
“Someone vandalized my Porsche,” Thomas said casually once we were settled in the back seat.
My jaw dropped. “Thomas! Why didn’t you tell me that? You know – like, sooner?”
Thomas sighed. “I didn’t want to add to your stress,” he said. He reached over and squeezed my knee. A warm, pleasant sensation floated through my body and I closed my eyes. Being with Thomas was making me feel better than I’d felt since before I’d gotten fired. But I knew that wouldn’t last – I knew that as soon as I was alone again, my anxiety would come trickling back in to haunt me.
“When did it happen?” I narrowed my eyes.
Thomas reached forward and tapped the back of the driver’s seat. “Café DeLuxe, please,” he said. “It’s in Bushwick.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That sounds trendy,” I said.
Thomas laughed. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard of it before.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ll be the oldest one there.”
“You’re getting off track,” I said. “What happened to your car? When?”
Thomas looked guilty. “Yesterday, when I was upstairs with you,” he said. “I came back down to the street to find my tires slashes. Someone shattered the windshield, too.”
Guilt surged through my body and tears welled up in my eyes. This is my fault , too , I realized sadly. Thomas may be having a good effect on my life, but I certainly can’t say the same about my effect on his!
Thomas cupped my chin in his hands. “No,” he said firmly. “Don’t get upset. Don’t blame yourself, June – you had no way of knowing.”
I bit my lip. “I feel like such an idiot,” I said softly.