Regret hits my stomach and I blow out a breath. Why didn’t I stay and talk to him like an adult?
“I know,” I sigh. “I can’t come back, I’m too embarrassed. I feel like an idiot.”
“Do you want me to come home with you?” she asks
“No, you stay with the others and ring me tomorrow,” I sigh.
“Ok, chick, love you.” She hangs up.
The cab pulls up out the front of my apartment ten minutes later and Max is waiting out on the footpath. He opens the door for me and ushers me out.
“You know better than to run off like that,” he sighs.
“Get lost Max, don’t lecture me unless you want a black eye,” I snap as I storm toward my apartment.
He smirks as he pulls out his phone. “Hi Josh, I have her … no, she’s fine.” His eyes flick to me. “Do you want to speak to her?” He turns his back to me and I frown. “Ok.” He answers and he hangs up.
“Why didn’t you put me on the phone?” I ask.
“Um, he didn’t want to speak to you,” he answers nervously.
“What?” I snap as I narrow my eyes. Oh, that’s it, I storm toward my apartment with renewed vigour. He didn’t want to speak to me … well I didn’t want to speak to him, asshole. I get into my apartment and ring Bridget straight away.
“Hi,” she answers.
“Joshua just didn’t want to speak to me, when he’s the asshole,” I snap.
“Hmm,” she answers.
“He is the one keeping secrets and now I’m the one not being spoken to. He can kiss my ass!” I scream.
“Ok,” she murmurs.
“What does ok mean?” I scream.
“Ok, I think you are acting crazy. It was before he even was with you. You just lost your grandmother so of course he wanted to protect you.”
“But do you see my point?” I scream.
“Stop yelling. Yes, I see your point,” she snaps. “Just don’t worry about it till tomorrow, I don’t think Joshua is.”
I frown. “Why do you say that?” I ask.
“He has just come back from the bar with a tray of tequilas,” she whispers.
“Oh really,” I fume.
“Yes, really, and since I have been on the phone he has drunk three of them.”
“Oh really,” I fume again.
“I will stay with him and the boys and ring you tomorrow,” she replies flatly.
My stomach drops. “Ok, don’t let him out of your sight,” I snap.
“Alright,” she snaps. “Calm down.” She hangs up.
I strip off and head straight to my therapy of choice, a steaming hot shower where I sink to the floor and wallow in self-pity.
“Shhh, shhh.” I wake as I hear laughter echoing through my apartment.
I look at my bedside clock. 4. 45 am, frigging idiot. Then I hear Bridget’s laugh and then Cameron’s voice. Oh great they have all come back here. I feel a wave of relief hit me. I have been over-analysing my drama-queen behaviour all night and Bridget is right, I should have stayed and talked to him. With the relief that he is here I snuggle back into my pillow to try to go back to sleep. My door opens and I hear them all laughing. I smile to myself while I pretend to be asleep. What are the idiots doing? I look in the mirror doors and Joshua is hanging by one arm from the door frame holding something out and Bridget and Cameron are hysterical with laughter behind him, pushing each other into the room as if I am a monster.
“It’s not working,” Joshua laughs.
“Hold it out to her,” Bridget giggles.
“I’m just going to throw it at her head,” Joshua whispers loudly.
Bridget burst out laughing. “I’m telling you, once she gets that McDonald’s she will forget she ever had the shits.”
Oh my god, they have McDonald’s and are trying to hold it out to me to be funny. I find myself smiling into my pillow, trying to act asleep.
I feel something small hit my head and Cameron and Joshua burst out laughing again as Bridget sshhs them.
I feel something hit me again and then again while they kill themselves laughing. Cameron is on the floor on his hands and knees trying to compose himself.
“We are so funny.” He laughs as he slaps his hand onto the carpet.
What the hell? I put my hand to my head in question. Oh my god, they are throwing fries at my head.
“What the fuck?” I yell.
The light turns on and Joshua bounds onto the bed and Cameron throws his whole packet of fries over the two of us.
“Cameron,” I scream.
Joshua smiles cheekily as he lies next to me on the bed propped up on an elbow. He picks up a chip from the bed and eats it.
“I bought you a Big Mac as a peace offering.” He holds out his hand and in it is a mangled Big Mac with half the wrapper missing.
I frown at his hand. “I’m good,” I mutter.
“It’s really good, I had three,” he slurs.
I can’t help it. I smile. “You had three Big Macs?” I ask.