The Best Friends Anthology (A New City Story Book 5) by Stefanie Simpson

Author:Stefanie Simpson [Simpson, Stefanie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-02-03T00:00:00+00:00

SPACE

We drove to work in silence as heavy rain pelted the windscreen with tension thick between us. A bright love song came on the radio, and he turned it off.

There was no work banter, and he spent lunch in his office.

The humidity of the day rose to unbearable levels when the rain stopped, and I slipped out of work without Toby and went into town as it hit five.

I’d slept horribly and was so unsettled, I couldn’t figure myself out. I mooched around the shops, and nothing caught my eye. Everything felt flat around me.

Sweat clung to my back and exhausted, I went to a cafe for an iced coffee and air conditioning but stopped dead in my tracks.

Saffi.

Whatever fate or gods there were must have been laughing at me.

She was as immaculate as ever. When I first met her, I’d hoped we be friends, but she’d been aloof. Perhaps she’d seen what Anne had, what I hadn’t; my affection for Toby.

I smoothed my rumpled linen dress and wilted hair. “Saffi.”

She didn’t speak at first and pulled off her sunglasses. “You don’t come here.”

“No, just passing through town.”

“He’s not with you, is he?”

“No.”

She nodded.

“How are you?” I narrowed my eyes.

“As can be expected. I hear he’s living with you.”

“Toby’s one of my best friends, and I’m good to my friends.”

“I bet,” she muttered as she left.

After I bought my coffee, I went home.

Toby’s car was there when I got back, and the house was quiet. I knocked on his door.

He appeared, opening it a little, and leant on it, barring the way.

“Can we talk?” I needed my best friend.

“Poppy, I asked to think about what happened. You need to give me space, okay?” He’d never sounded so cold.

“I know you’re angry with me, and I’m sorry. Please, Toby.” I fought the tears that burnt behind my eyes.

“I’m not angry. I just don’t know how to feel. Everything is changing. I need to think.”

My lip wobbled. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t cry.” He pulled me into a tight hold, and I clung onto my safe place. “It’s all right. So much has happened, and my whole life is changing, I don’t think my mind is in the right place to make rational choices that will affect us, okay?”

With a nod, I pulled away and kept my eyes on the floor. Turning away from him was so hard, it hurt my stomach. I curled up on my bed, trying to figure out what to do for the best. I was terrified of losing him.

In the morning, I got the bus to work, leaving before he was up.

He needed space, so I gave it to him, and in the process, I lost my best friend.

No breakup felt like this and having to see him was the worst when I couldn’t talk to or hang out with him. We avoided each other in the kitchen, in fact, I hid in my room until I heard his door close.

Anne was rarely home, so I spent most of my time by myself.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.