A few hours after my meltdown, I called Ingrid. I was still feeling absolutely guilty about the way I had treated her when she had clearly been trying to help me.

She agreed to come over and I was waiting with undisguised impatience. I wanted to first of all apologise for snapping at her and I was going to explain everything to her.

Soon enough, the doorbell rang. I rushed to open it and practically pulled her into the house.

"Hey hey hey. Calm down. What's wrong? Why did you tell me to come over?" she asked.

"Ingrid, I- I'm so so sorry for yesterday. I just wasn't thinking straight. I had so much on my mind and I'm so sorry for taking out my frustration and snapping at you. I love you so much. I hope you know that." After saying that, I took in a deep breath and hoped she forgave me.

"Muffin, have you ever had a friend?" She laughed, making me feel embarrassed.

I had never had even a single friend except for my dad and it was normal that I didn't know how to act around them.

"I- no," I said with a sad smile. I did not want her to pity me. I was just keen on telling the truth.

"Aw, Denise. I was just teasing," she said then pulled me in for a hug. "I just- look, between friends, arguments happen, okay? You're not always ready to talk about something and I guess I was pushing hard yesterday. So I'm sorry too"

I smiled wide. "Thank you Ingrid"

"So, I know you have something to tell me. It's written all over your face. Spill the tea sis," she said and I grimaced a little bit. Was I that obvious?

I opened my mouth then shut it again with a frown. I didn't know how exactly to put it and knowing Ingrid, she was going to have a huge reaction.

"Hey talk! I'm salivating? Is it about the hunk we still don't trust?? Tell me!!" she exclaimed and I smiled a bit. She was like a toddler on sugar sometimes. Or an overexcited puppy. Or a cat on steroids. Okay, enough comparisons.

"You remember Cory?" I asked, not wanting to just drive into the subject.

"Of course I remember Cory. He's your asshole ex right?"

I nodded vigorously then continued. "Well, he called me"

"What? What did he want?" she asked with wise eyes.

"Well, he texted first, then called. Not that that detail is important"

"What did he tell you? That he wants you back? He was wrong?" She joked and I blushed profusely.

"Well actually.. he did" I hesitated a bit before saying that because I was scared of her reaction. She picked on that quickly and narrowed her eyes at me.

"Why are you so hesitant? Did you do something you don't want me to know about? Oh my God, did you agree to meet up with him??"

"Yes?"

Ingrid looked at me with her mouth open for a few seconds then said, "Show me the texts"

I handed her my phone and sat in painful silence waiting for her to give her opinion.

Ingrid looked up at me after what seemed like hours and asked, "You believed this shit?"

"I.. no. I just– he called and he sounded really desperate– I couldn't say no, Ingrid!" I explained and her gaze softened.

"You're too soft. Dammit. Have you already agreed on where to meet? And does Fabian know about this?" she asked and I swallowed.

"Not yet. I haven't even told him about him being my second chance mate and all. I'm scared he's going to take it badly."

There. That was it. I really didn't want to go through yet another reaction. I was strong but not that strong.

"Stop underestimating what you guys have!" Ingrid scolded. "Yes, you're second chance mates, but there's something else! There's that electricity. I know you feel it!"

I nodded but the worried frown was still on my face. "I know but–"

"No buts, Muffin. Now, I think when he gets back, you call him and you guys meet up and you explain everything to him. Keeping all this from him is only going to backfire in the end," Ingrid reasoned and I had to admit she was right.

"You're right. You're right. That's exactly what I'm going to do. But first, I'm going to meet up with that lowlife and tell him everything I have wanted to over the past months. To his damn face."

Ingrid cheered and I laughed.

"I love you Ingrid," I said honestly, a blush covering my cheeks.

She awed then said, "I love you too Muffin. I don't know who could ever hate you with a clear conscience"

After about five seconds, Ingrid looked at me suspiciously and added, "Hope you're not telling me this to get out of the dinner next weekend? You're meeting my parents and that's final"

"Why would I even want to get out of the dinner?" I asked, rolling my eyes, "It sounds fun"

"Yeah. Keyword being sounds. Don't say I didn't warn ya, love."

"Stop quoting Taylor Swift on me"

"Baby I'm a nightmare, dressed as a daydream."

I rolled my eyes and laughed at her absurdity. The girl was a walking nutcase, in the nicest sense of the term.

***

A few hours later, Cory called again. Ingrid was gone and I was trying to keep it together. I didn't want to come off as the girl who did not move on. I didn't need him getting that ego boost. So I was going to play it cool, calm and collected. The three C's.

"Hello?" I answered on the third ring.

"Denise?"

"Yes?"

"I thought you were not going to answer," he said and even through the phone, I could hear the relief in his voice.

"Cory, I told you I was going to meet up with you," I reasoned.

"Yeah, but I thought you were saying that just to make me stop hounding you," Cory said and I swallowed.

"Well, I was serious," I replied and there was a but of a silence for a moment.

Then he broke it. "When are you free– I mean when can we meet– Denise, when is an appropriate time for us to meet?"

I almost giggled, hearing him sound flustered, but I held it in.

"Tomorrow I have an off day. We could probably meet," I said, trying to come off as nonchalant. I really didn't want to be callous. In spite of the fact that, this man, whom I had thought was a friend and an ally had hurt me, I couldn't bring myself to hurt him intentionally.

"Yes, sure. That'd be perfect. Where should we meet?" He asked and something came into my mind.

"Cory, you do realize we are not in the same town any longer right? How are you going to come here in such a short period of time?"

"I, um, I kinda– I'm in your city," he let out and I was shocked.

"How did you know where I was??"

"I did some digging. I'm sorry if I overstepped my limits. I'll understand if you no longer want us to–"

"Stop trying to sound vulnerable and shit, Cory! You don't get to! Whatever. Meet me tomorrow at 3 pm at The Tavern," I said then hung up before he could say anything.

I guess I had overestimated myself. I thought out of mind was out of sight. And it was for a moment. But now I was slowly realizing that all I did was bury those feelings deep deep in me. Because I didn't want to come to terms with them. Because I didn't want to think of bad memories. Because I didn't want to remind myself I was hurt.

Tomorrow, I was going to clear up whatever was left to clear up with Cory and after that, hopefully, I was going to move on. Finally.

***

Hello guys. Thanks for 500+ reads and over a 100 votes. Might not seem like a lot to some but it's a lot to me 😊

Love, Essie 🌺