succeeds in pushing him higher in my mind. I’ve even avoided talking to my brother because I know he’ll ask why I was acting so strange the day we left the Hamptons.
My phone vibrates as I arrive at The Grind near NYU. My favorite morning macchiato is calling my name as I step in line behind a dozen other students. I fish for my phone in my pocket as I step up to place my order. I know I shouldn’t be expecting Tristan to call me, but a part of me misses hearing from him. The paintings that hang in the coffee house only manage to remind me of his art. Deep down inside, I know it’s one of the main reasons why I come to this coffee shop. Sitting among the bright colors has a homier feel. The Grind even has bookshelves where you can borrow books and return them when you want. It all works on an honor system, but lately I find myself more often taking books of poetry home to hoard.
Disappointment fills me at the sight of Augie’s number flashing across my screen. I’m surprised he’s calling me when he’s supposed to be meeting up with Harvey for lunch. The two have been getting pretty serious lately. It’s been less than a month and they’re already saying ‘I love you’ to each other.
My heart squeezes at the thought of those words. While I’m happy for Augie, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of jealousy. I honestly wish I could have their relationship. They make falling in love look easy. I reluctantly pick up his call.
“Emily?”
He sounds almost confused as if he was expecting my phone to go to voicemail.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Where are you?”
I look around the coffee shop with curiosity. Is Augie here? The shop is packed with students taking summer classes. Half of them are either grabbing coffee or sitting to write papers.
“I’m heading back to the apartment in a few minutes.”
“Oh, okay…”
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“…I saw him.”
“Who are you talking about,” I ask.
“Tristan Knight.”
My heart stills at the sound of his name. Just hearing it brings back the memory of Tristan’s face as I told him I didn’t need him. I feel my knees growing weaker by the second as I still myself on a rack of coffee mugs for sale.
“He was walking down the opposite side of the streets as us in the Meat Packing District. I swear I almost spit out my coke when I saw him. Harvey kept asking me if I was okay because I nearly choked,” Augie says.
“Why are you telling me this,” I ask, trying my best to sound unaffected by his revelation.
He chuckles softly into the phone. “Damn, you are still pissed. Don’t get me wrong, I would be, too…”
I step outside the line of students waiting to fill up on caffeine and head to the restroom. My cheeks warm as hot tears form at the corner of my eyes. I push my way past a cluster of sorority girls and lock the bathroom door behind me. Tightness fills my chest as I stare into the bathroom mirror. My once vibrant skin is now pale looking. Even my hair seems to have a mind of its own. The strands fall flatly on my face giving my hair a dead appearance.
“He asked for you.”
I curse to myself as I accidentally ram my knee into the sink countertop. I was so stupid to think the night we slept together would somehow fix what was broken between us. The only thing it’s accomplished is to cause me to feel like an idiot when he slept with Ceci. Sadly, I can’t even muster the energy to hate him when I know I should. I still carry the necklace on me that I almost lost at the beach.
“Augie, what are you doing?”
“Trying to tell you that I recognize pain and regret when I see it.”
For the past week, he’s been attempting to get me to entertain the notion that Tristan didn’t sleep with Ceci. I have a feeling he had a long talk with her and that’s the reason he’s been pushing it so hard. I can’t say I’m on good terms with Ceci. She’s trying, but I’m not ready to forgive her for jumping in bed with
My phone vibrates as I arrive at The Grind near NYU. My favorite morning macchiato is calling my name as I step in line behind a dozen other students. I fish for my phone in my pocket as I step up to place my order. I know I shouldn’t be expecting Tristan to call me, but a part of me misses hearing from him. The paintings that hang in the coffee house only manage to remind me of his art. Deep down inside, I know it’s one of the main reasons why I come to this coffee shop. Sitting among the bright colors has a homier feel. The Grind even has bookshelves where you can borrow books and return them when you want. It all works on an honor system, but lately I find myself more often taking books of poetry home to hoard.
Disappointment fills me at the sight of Augie’s number flashing across my screen. I’m surprised he’s calling me when he’s supposed to be meeting up with Harvey for lunch. The two have been getting pretty serious lately. It’s been less than a month and they’re already saying ‘I love you’ to each other.
My heart squeezes at the thought of those words. While I’m happy for Augie, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of jealousy. I honestly wish I could have their relationship. They make falling in love look easy. I reluctantly pick up his call.
“Emily?”
He sounds almost confused as if he was expecting my phone to go to voicemail.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Where are you?”
I look around the coffee shop with curiosity. Is Augie here? The shop is packed with students taking summer classes. Half of them are either grabbing coffee or sitting to write papers.
“I’m heading back to the apartment in a few minutes.”
“Oh, okay…”
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“…I saw him.”
“Who are you talking about,” I ask.
“Tristan Knight.”
My heart stills at the sound of his name. Just hearing it brings back the memory of Tristan’s face as I told him I didn’t need him. I feel my knees growing weaker by the second as I still myself on a rack of coffee mugs for sale.
“He was walking down the opposite side of the streets as us in the Meat Packing District. I swear I almost spit out my coke when I saw him. Harvey kept asking me if I was okay because I nearly choked,” Augie says.
“Why are you telling me this,” I ask, trying my best to sound unaffected by his revelation.
He chuckles softly into the phone. “Damn, you are still pissed. Don’t get me wrong, I would be, too…”
I step outside the line of students waiting to fill up on caffeine and head to the restroom. My cheeks warm as hot tears form at the corner of my eyes. I push my way past a cluster of sorority girls and lock the bathroom door behind me. Tightness fills my chest as I stare into the bathroom mirror. My once vibrant skin is now pale looking. Even my hair seems to have a mind of its own. The strands fall flatly on my face giving my hair a dead appearance.
“He asked for you.”
I curse to myself as I accidentally ram my knee into the sink countertop. I was so stupid to think the night we slept together would somehow fix what was broken between us. The only thing it’s accomplished is to cause me to feel like an idiot when he slept with Ceci. Sadly, I can’t even muster the energy to hate him when I know I should. I still carry the necklace on me that I almost lost at the beach.
“Augie, what are you doing?”
“Trying to tell you that I recognize pain and regret when I see it.”
For the past week, he’s been attempting to get me to entertain the notion that Tristan didn’t sleep with Ceci. I have a feeling he had a long talk with her and that’s the reason he’s been pushing it so hard. I can’t say I’m on good terms with Ceci. She’s trying, but I’m not ready to forgive her for jumping in bed with
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