“I’m hoping it’s temporary,” I said, trying to sympathize with him, but it was hard when I had enough on my plate. “A month, maybe two tops. I’m waiting for a room to open up.”
“A month or two? Are you just going to be spending time at the frat house with me, then?”
I knew I made a face, but I couldn’t help it. “No, definitely not.” I didn’t know if I could stomach staying there again. The last time I did, I woke up and puked, the smell in the kitchen so unbearable I couldn’t even stomach making a cup of coffee. Not to mention the endless loud noises that left me with almost zero sleep every night.
“What? Why not?”
“I’m sorry Dean, I just don’t really feel comfortable sleeping there, and I like my sleep. I need my sleep. Which doesn’t happen easily when I try to stay the night.”
“So what? I’m going to be sleeping at your dad’s house? That sounds weird and inconvenient.”
“Umm, no to that, too. He’s really strict and will never let a guy sleep there with me. I think even if we were married, we would be in separate rooms at his house,” I said with a laugh, but when I turned, Dean was sneering.
“So are you saying we won’t be spending any nights together until you have a dorm room?”
“I mean, maybe? I guess I could try to sleep at the frat house, but could you change the lock code to your room or something? The guys there do not seem to have boundaries.”
“No, I mean, even if you do, what is that going to be, like, once a week tops? Daisy, you’re not serious right now, are you?”
“I’m doing the best I can. You know I can’t stay here. This place is so toxic ,I’m losing my mind.”
“Couldn’t you stick it out until a dorm room opens up?”
“That’s not how it works.” I smiled, trying to give a reassuring touch, but he was stiff. “You could always sneak into my room. That could be fun,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
He rolled his eyes and scowled, not meeting my eye. “No, I’m not doing that. If your dad found us, he would be pissed, and then it would get back to my dad, and to coach.”
“And we’re adults, so I think that would be okay. Come on,” I said, grabbing his arm again. “I think it’s hot.”
“Not when I have so much riding on my dad paying for my school so I can play football full time.”
“You literally get drunk every weekend, if not every day during the week, and you don’t worry about getting caught with that?”
He stepped back, and I didn’t miss the coldness that came over him. “You know, we have a lot of games lined up for the next month and there are events outside of the games that I have to go to. Then, you won’t even be nearby, so…”
“So?”
“So maybe we should take a break for a month. You can focus on all these changes, and I can focus on football.”
Red hot anger rushed over me like a tidal wave. I knew exactly what he wanted to focus on, and this was the perfect opportunity for him to do that. “And maybe you can put a little more focus on Sydney, too?”
“Daisy, you know nothing happened. She hit on me, I turned her down, the end.”
“Fine, if we are on a break, are you going to sleep with her? Are you going to be sleeping with other people?”
“I mean, maybe, I guess. If we aren’t together, would it matter?”
“Are you going to sleep with Sydney?” I asked again, each word carefully said, because I knew the answer would make or break us.
“I said ‘maybe’. She has texted me a few times. I don’t want to tell you yes or no because I don’t know.”
“That’s pretty much a yes.” I took a step back. “Okay, then. Get out.”
“Daisy, we don’t have to make this bad. It will just be a month and then we can talk.”
“No need. We’re done.”
“Wait, no, please. I do love you. I wasn’t trying to break up permanently. We just both have a lot going on.”
“No, you were just trying to take a break so you can fuck my friends and then keep me around. Get. Out.”
I pushed him out of the room and shut the door. I could hear him on the other side, knocking and pacing.
“Come on, Daisy. We can’t be over permanently.”
I pulled the door back open, peeking out to see him staring at his phone.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because we are made for each other. We are perfect. But no one wants to settle down with the first person they fall for, right? It’s different for you. I need the sow-my-wild-oats type of shit.”
“Fine, go ahead. I will, too.”
He rolled his eyes. “I already know you’re not the type to do that or to understand why I would. You’re perfect, Daisy. I just want to experience a few more things before I’m settled down.”
“I’m not the type to understand? Why not? You think I don’t want to sleep with other people?”
“You do?” he asked, eyebrows jumping up. “Yeah, right.”
